Microwave assisted economic multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized with 10–40 nm diameter and 9.1 m2/g surface area. CNTs were used to remove arsenite and arsenate in water with 60 min contact time, 40.0 μg/L concentration, 6.0 pH, 2.0 g/L dose and 25 °C. The percentage removal of arsenate and arsenite were 92.0 and 91.0. The sorption data obeyed Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich, Freundlich, and Langmuir models. The free energy values for arsenate and arsenite were −15.68 and −15.75 and −13.80 and −13.85 and −13.66 and −13.73 kJ/mol at 20, 25 and 30 °C. The values of enthalpy and entropy for arsenate and arsenite were −16.11 and −16.15 and −36.33 × 10−3 and −36.53 × 10−3 kJ/mol. The negative value of ΔG° showed spontaneous adsorption on CNTs. The sorption was exothermic and the kinetics was controlled by pseudo-first order. Arsenic species removal was occurred via liquid film diffusion mechanism. The column data followed Bohart and Adams and Thomas models. The removal amounts of arsenite and arsenate species in column operations were 13.5 and 14.0 μg/g. The reported method was low priced, quick and reproducible. The reported method is appropriate for the uptake of arsenic in ordinary water sources owing to its capability to work in normal water situations. •Economic synthesis of MWCNTs through CVD method•MWCNTs have 40–45% larger yield and 2 times larger surface area.•Economic arsenate and arsenite removal in water by batch and column operation•Method is capable to work at natural water conditions, economic, efficient and fast.•As(III) and As(V) may be removed economically from any water resource.