Adsorption behavior of molybdate and tungstate from water by acid-treated carbon cloth was investigated. The carbon cloth was treated with sulfuric acid and used for the adsorption of molybdate and tungstate from water samples at nearly neutral solutions. The concentration of ions in the solution was monitored using in situ UV spectroscopy. Acid treatment caused a significant increase in the adsorption rate of ions and the adsorption capacity of the adsorbents. The adsorption isotherm data for the anions were derived at 25 degrees C and treated according to Langmuir and Freundlich models and was found that both models were almost equally successful. Adsorption capacities determined from Langmuir isotherms of anions showed that molybdate has greater adsorption capacity than tungstate.