One-dimensional (1-D) nanotubes are promising nanostructured materials for a wide variety of environmental applications. In this study, the 1-D titanate nanotubes (TNTs) were fabricated using an alkaline hydrothermal method and then calcined at various temperatures ranging from 200 to 600 degrees C in air for 4 h for coupled removal of bisphenol A (BPA) and Cu(II) ion. The as-synthesized TNTs showed tubular structures with diameter of 8-10 nm and length of few mu m. After calcination at 400-600 degrees C, the well-crystallized anatase TiO2 nanoparticles were produced on the tube walls to form titania/TNT nanocomposites, resulting in the decrease in specific surface area and the increase in isoelectric point. The as-synthesized and calcined TNTs have good Cu(II) adsorption capacity, and the maximum Langmuir adsorption capabilities decreased from 160 mg/g for as-synthesized TNTs to 35 mg/g for TNT-600, presumably due to the decrease in specific surface area. In addition, the calcined TNT showed a good photocatalytic activity towards BPA degradation when compared with the as-synthesized TNTs. The coexistence of Cu(II) ion and BPA exhibited the synergistic effect on the enhancement of photocatalytic activity of calcined TNTs. Electron spin resonance results indicated that the copper ion was first adsorbed onto the negatively charged TNTs, and then served as the electron trap to prolong to retention time of photo-generated radicals, resulting in the enhancement of photodegradation efficiency and rate of BPA by calcined TNTs. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.