Superb fluoride and arsenic removal performance of highly ordered mesoporous aluminas

► Highly ordered mesoporous aluminas and calcium-doped aluminas are produced. ► Ca-doped mesoporous alumina has a maximum defluoridation capacity of 450 mg/g and excellent selectivity towards fluoride ion. ► 1 g of highly ordered mesoporous aluminas can treat 4 kg of fluoride contaminated water (5 ppm). ► 1 g of highly ordered mesoporous aluminas can treat 200 kg of arsenic contaminated water (100 ppb).