The present invention articulates a water-based room temperature synthesis of partially crystalline aluminum hydroxide on an organic polymer, having high adsorption capacity for arsenic. The size of the particles is extremely small (less than 5 nm). The synthesis of the material typically requires ambient temperature (25 ± 2 °C). The material in the granular form has inherent green strength and it is ready for use for water purification application, requiring no further treatment. Application of the material as an adsorbent for removing arsenic from water has been demonstrated. © 2012 Taylor & Francis Group.