Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have aroused widespread attention as a new type of adsorbents due to their outstanding ability for the removal of various inorganic and organic pollutants, and radionuclides from large volumes of wastewater. This review summarizes the properties of CNTs and their properties related to the adsorption of various organic and inorganic pollutants from large volumes of aqueous solutions. Their application as adsorbents for the preconcentration and immobilization of all kinds of pollutants from gas streams and large volumes of aqueous solutions are summarized, and the further research trend on CNTs in the removal of pollutants is also given. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.