The present study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of nano-alumina for nitrate removal from aqueous solutions. The nature and morphology of sorbent was characterized by XRD, FTIR, BET and SEM analysis. Batch adsorption studies were performed as a function of contact time, initial nitrate concentration, temperature, pH and influence of other interfering anions. Nitrate sorption kinetics was well fitted by pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The maximum sorption capacity of nano-alumina for nitrate removal was found to be ca. 4.0 mg g(-1) at 25 +/- 2 degrees C. Maximum nitrate removal occurred at equilibrium pH ca. 4.4. The nitrate sorption has been well explained using Langmuir isotherm model. Results from this study demonstrated the potential utility of nano-alumina for nitrate removal from water. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.