A novel arsenic removal process for water using cupric oxide nanoparticles

► Aqueous arsenic adsorption kinetics by CuO nanoparticles was studied. ► An effective continuous flow-through reactor with CuO nanoparticles was developed to filter arsenic from water. ► CuO nanoparticles were regenerated. Regenerated CuO nanoparticles were also effective in filtering arsenic from water. ► CuO nanoparticles show unique adsorption, desorption, and readsorption phenomena for aqueous arsenic. ► Results of this study demostrate potential in developing a practical process for field applications.