Bromate (BrO3-) is the harmful element that could be produced from disinfection of drinking water. In this study, surfactant-modified powdered activated carbon(SM-PAC) was synthesized and used for the removal of bromate (BrO3-) from water. Three cationic surfactants, cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), and hexadecyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide (CTAB) were used for modification. The effect of operation parameters, pH, and contact time were obtained. Moreover, BrO3- adsorption mechanisms on SM-PACs were discussed. Compared with untreated activated carbon, CTAC modified SM-PAC exhibited 3 times higher BrO3- adsorption capacity. These results indicated that SM-PAC removed BrO3- effectively and rapidly from water without producing harmful byproducts.