Water-soluble carbon nanotubes (ws-CNTs) have been synthesized through oxidative treatment of dilute nitric acid with carbon soot obtained by burning mustard oil in insufficient supply of air. Crystallographic, morphological and topographic analyses of ws-CNTs have been studied using powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope and atomic force microscope respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has been performed for confirmation of functional group.