alpha-Fe2O3　nanowires　deposited　diatomite　was　prepared　using　a　precipitation-deposition　method　with　FeCl3　as　metal　source　and　(NH2)(2)CO　aqueous　solution　as　precipitating　agent.　Physicochemical　properties　of　the　samples　were　characterized　by　means　of　numerous　techniques,　and　their　efficiency　for　the　removal　of　As(III)　and　As(V)　was　determined.　It　is　found　that　the　solution　pH　value,　reaction　temperature,　reaction　time,　and　FeCl3　concentration　had　effects　on　the　alpha-Fe2O3　amount　loaded　on　the　diatomite.　Parameters,　such　as　adsorbent　amount,　adsorption　time,　adsorption　temperature,　pH　value,　and　initial　As(III)　or　As(V)　concentration,　could　influence　the　As(III)　or　As(V)　removal　efficiency　of　the　alpha-Fe2O3　nanowires/diatomite　sample　(prepared　with　a　8　wt%　FeCl3　aqueous　solution　at　pH　=　4.5　and　50　degrees　C　for　35　h)　for　the　removal　of　As(III)　and　As(V).　Over　the　alpha-Fe2O3/diatomite　sample　at　pH　=　3.5,　the　maximal　As(III)　and　As(V)　adsorption　capacities　were　60.6　and　81.2　mg　g(-1),　and　the　maximal　As(III)　and　As(V)　removal　efficiency　was　99.98　and　100%,　respectively.　The　Langmuir　model　was　more　suitable　for　the　adsorption　of　As(V),　whereas　the　Freundlich　model　was　more　suitable　for　the　adsorption　of　As(III).　The　adsorption　mechanism　of　the　sample　was　also　discussed.