In this study a surfactant-modified zeolite (SMZ) was prepared by adsorbing the cationic surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) bromide on a clinoptilolite. The adsorption of the surfactant modified the surface properties of the clinoptilolite and enhanced the anionic capacity of the SMZ. The adsorption equilibrium data of As(V) from the water solution on the SMZ were obtained in a batch adsorber, and the Langmuir isotherm matched the data reasonably well. The As(V) adsorption capacity of the SMZ was 12.5 times greater than that of the clinoptilolite. The adsorption of As(V) on SMZ was mainly due to the interactions between the anionic sites of the SMZ and the As(V) anions in water solution. The adsorption capacity of the SMZ was dependent on the solution pH. The adsorption capacity was increased and decreased by augmenting the pH from 5 to 7 and from 7 to 12, respectively. This unusual behavior was due to the fact that the affinity of the As(V) for the SMZ was dependent on the As(V) species that were present in solution. The adsorption capacity of the SMZ was slightly favored by decreasing the temperature from 25 to 15°C. The heat of adsorption was estimated to be H ads = −46.82 KJ/mol, indicating that the adsorption was exothermic and the As(V) was chemisorbed on the SMZ.Initial concentration of As(V) in solution, μg/L C Concentration of As(V) at equilibrium in solution, μg/L k Constant of the Freundlich isotherm, μg 1−1/n L 1/n /g K Constant of the Langmuir isotherm, L/μg K 0 Frequency factor, L/μg H ads Heat of adsorption, KJ/mol m Mass of SMZ, g n Constant of the Freundlich isotherm N Number of experimental data points q Uptake of As(V) adsorbed on SMZ, μg/g q exp Experimental uptake of As(V) adsorbed on the SMZ, μg/g q m Maximum uptake of As(V) adsorbed on SMZ, μg/g q pred Uptake of As(V) predicted with the adsorption isotherm, μg/g q 0 Initial uptake of As(V) adsorbed on the ZMS at the beginning of a desorption step, μg/g R Ideal gas constant, J/mol K T Temperature, K V Volume of As(V) solution, L