Carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-based composites have attracted substantial interest as potential adsorbents for heavy metals removal, due to their unique properties of chemical, mechanical, and thermal stability, and their high surface area. In this study, carbon nanotube filters were fabricated by a three-step processing route of carbonising reaction of biomorphic carbon materials (BCMs), hydrothermal method for template synthesis and coating on the BCMs, and catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD). The BCMs with well-developed hexagonal honeycomb structure were then subjected to a wetting process that resulted in the formation of a Fe–, Co–, Cu–, and Ni–ion loaded LTA on the BCMs; and finally, the CNTs were synthesized by catalytic chemical vapor deposition of acetylene (C₂H₂). Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with inner diameter of 7.31 nm, outer diameter of 38.53 nm, and maximum yield of 15.50% were synthesized at 650 °C for 120 min with Co nanoparticles, and the I_D/I_G of CNTs of 0.97 was obtained. Aqueous solutions of Mn(II), Cu(II), Cr(III), Cd(II), and Pb(II) were used to test for the removal of heavy metal. For the nanofiltration, we found removal efficiencies for Mn, Cu, Cr, Cd, and Pb of around (98.22, 99.29, 98.22, 98.41, and 99.99)%, respectively

Keywords: Carbon nanotube filter, LTA template, Permeability, Heavy metal ions, Removal efficiency