The invention relates to a preparation method and application of a sulfhydryl chitosan/activated carbon composite functional membrane, belonging to the technical fields of novel functional membrane material preparation and arsenic-polluted water treatment. The preparation method comprises the following steps: compounding chitosan and activated carbon into a membrane, adding epoxy chloropropane to carry out cross-linking to obtain a cross-linked chitosan/activated carbon composite membrane, modifying the cross-linked chitosan/activated carbon composite membrane with 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid, and introducing sulfhydryl group onto the chitosan framework, thereby obtaining the functional membrane. The novel functional membrane prepared by the method provided by the invention can display multiple synergic functions of chitosan, activated carbon and sulfhydryl group, is used for treating arsenic-polluted water, is applicable to wide pH range, does not need the step of preoxidation, can effectively remove As (III) and As (V), is free from the influence of coexistent competitive anions, has the advantages of favorable mechanical strength and simple treatment technique, can be used repeatedly, can greatly lower the cost, and is a new material and method having industrial application prospects.