This article focuses on the syntheses of 25,27-bis[3-(N-ethylsulfonic acid)aminopropxy]-26,28-dihydroxy-5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-calix[4]arene (3) and 25,27-bis[3-(N-ethyl-dihydrogen phosphate)aminopropxy]-26,28-dihydroxy-5,11, 17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-calix[4]arene (4) as well as their immobilization onto [3-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)-propyl]-trimethoxysilane-modified Fe3O 4 magnetite nanoparticles, and the extraction abilities of four new extractants which were characterized by a combination of FTIR, 1H NMR, elemental analyses, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) involving electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions between the calixarene and oxide anions such as arsenate and dichromate anions. The extraction results indicate that these new calixarene derivatives having high extraction capabilities would be used as effective extractants for the removal of the dichromate/arsenate ions from water. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.