Novel hydrated zirconium oxide (ZrO(OH) 2 ) coated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared via a filtration-steam hydrolysis method, and were used to remove As(III) and As(V) from drinking water. This adsorbent was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The ZrO(OH) 2 coated on the surface of CNTs was amorphous, and the coating thickness was in the range of 1–8 nm. The ZrO(OH) 2 /CNTs nanocomposite showed high adsorption for both As(III) and As(V) with the maximum adsorption capacities of 78.2 and 124.6 mg/g, respectively, according to the Langmuir fitting. The adsorption capacities of ZrO(OH) 2 /CNTs at the equilibrium concentration of 10 μg/L were 2.0 mg/g for As(III) and 7.2 mg/g for As(V) at pH 7, much higher than those of ZrO(OH) 2 nanoparticles. Meanwhile, the adsorption rates of As(III) and As(V) on the ZrO(OH) 2 /CNTs were higher than the ZrO(OH) 2 nanoparticles. The spent adsorbent can be regenerated by re-coating ZrO(OH) 2 as the preparation method, and the adsorbed amounts of As(III) and As(V) on the ZrO(OH) 2 /CNTs changed little within six cycles. This ZrO(OH) 2 /CNTs nanocomposite shows a promising application potential for the removal of As(III) and As(V) from drinking water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]