beta-Cyclodextrin-chitosan-glutaraldehyde terpolymers were synthesized by reacting variable weight fractions of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and chitosan (Chi), with a constant amount of crosslinker (glutaraldehyde). The beta-CD:Chi:Glu terpolymer sorbents were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy and TGA. The solid-solution sorption isotherms in aqueous solution for the copolymers were characterized using two spectroscopic methods (UV-Vis and ICAP-OES) for p-nitrophenol (PNP) and the arsenate oxoanion (HAsO42-) at alkaline pH conditions. The Sips isotherm model was utilized to obtain sorption parameters at pH 8.5 and 295 K (i.e. sorbent surface area, sorption capacity and removal efficiency) for each copolymer sorbent. The sorbent surface area estimates for the terpolymers at low (T1), medium (T2), and high (T3) weight fractions of beta-CD are listed in parentheses (m(2) g(-1)), as follows: T1 (161), T2 (51.2) and T3 (275). The removal efficiencies are dependent on the relative weight fraction of the polysaccharide components (i.e. beta-CD and Chi); whereas the removal efficiencies for p-nitrophenolate ranged between 7.3% and 28%, and H2AsO42- ranged between 23% and 55%. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.