The article describes synthesis as well as the evaluation of sorption properties of new N-methylglucamine substituted calix[4]arene and its poly[(phenyl glycidyl ether)-co-formaldehyde] immobilized product. Firstly, 5,17-bis-[(N-methylglucamine)methyl]-25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxy-calix[4]arene (3) was synthesized by the treatment of calix[4]arene with a secondary amine N-methylglucamine and formaldehyde via Mannich reaction. The immobilization of 3 onto poly[(phenyl glycidyl ether)-co-formaldehyde] to form calixarene based polymer (4) was carried out under suitable reaction conditions via nucleophilic substitution reaction. All the new compounds were characterized by a combination of FT-IR, 1H-NMR spectroscopic and elemental analysis techniques. The sorption studies of 4 reveal that it is an excellent material for the removal of toxic oxoanions especially arsenate from aqueous environment. To understand the selectivity of 4, we also examined the retention of dichromate anions in the presence of Cl-, NO3- and SO42- anions at pH 1. 5. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2009.