Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) is a kind of highly toxic and volatile compound, with boiling point of 25.7℃. The formation of HCN comes from processing of cyanide-containing chemicals, processing tail gas of calcium carbide and yellow phosphorus, fossil fuels and biomass combustion as well as selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of nitrogen oxides mostly. The removal of HCN has been paid more and more attention. Here, we summarize the theory, advantage and disadvantage, and suitable range of the HCN removal methods of absorption method, combustion method, adsorption method (AM) and catalytic method (CM). AM and CM are recent research highlights for their low reaction temperature, high removal efficiency and simple purification process for HCN. The development of researches on HCN removal about AM and CM which includes the preparation and application of adsorbents and catalyst materials, the adsorption kinetics of HCN on adsorbents and the catalytic removal mechanism of HCN over catalysts is discussed deeply, to supply theoretic basis for the research and synthesis of effective HCN removal materials. That it will supply new mind and advice for realizing effective HCN removal through reviews of the research development of various kinds of HCN removal methods.