Abstract: Eutrophication is a major environmental pollution facing all countries in the world. Efficient removal of phosphorus could control water eutrophication as phosphorus is a most critical factor of eutrophication. In this paper, the advantage of phosphorus removal by adsorption is reviewed. The efficiency and mechanism of clay mineral materials, metal oxides and metal mineral materials, biomass materials and active carbon in adsorbing phosphate are summarized; and the actual adsorption efficiencies of montmorillonite, vermiculite, dolomite, and attapulgite in clay mineral materials, as well as metal oxides, hydrotalcite, iron ore, and slag in metal oxides and metal minerals are analyzed in details. In addition, some defects which need improvement in the adsorption of phosphorus are pointed out, and the modification of adsorbent is regarded as the research direction in the future.

Key words: adsorbent, adsorption, phosphate, wastewater treatment, rate of phosphorus removal