Aligned carbon nanotubes (ACNTs), a new type of carbon material, were prepared by catalytic decomposition of xylene using ferrocene as catalyst. The kinetics experiment of ACNTs shows that fluoride adsorption rate is fast in the first 60 min and the adsorption capacity reaches 3.0 mg/g rapidly, then it decreases and adsorption achieves equilibrium gradually in about 180 min. The fluoride adsorption of ACNTs depends slightly on the solution pH value. The highest adsorption capacity of ACNTs occurs at pH 7 and reaches 4.5 mg/g at equilibrium fluoride concentration of 15 mg/l. The experimental results indicate that ACNTs are promising candidate materials for fluoride removal. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.