Lanthanum-type　metal-organic　frameworks　(La-MOFs)　can　be　used　to　mitigate　phosphate　pollution　in　wastewater.　Herein,　La-MOFs　was　gained　via　the　solvothermal　method　and　its　phosphate　removal　property　was　examined　under　various　conditions,　like　variable　initial　phosphate　concentration,　solution　pH,　and　co-existing　ions.　The　material　morphology,　element　composition,　and　crystal　morphology　of　the　La-MOFs　was　characterized　using　XRD,　SEM,　FTIR,　and　XPS.　The　phosphate　removal　mechanism　was　investigated　by　combining　thermodynamic　and　kinetic　analyses.　The　La-MOFs　exhibited　superior　adsorption　capability　for　surplus　phosphate　in　water,　and　also　had　a　high　selectivity　for　phosphate　in　the　complexed　environment　with　some　co-existing　ions.　Maximum　adsorption　was　obtained　at　pH　4.　The　sorption　procedure　of　La-MOFs　aligned　more　with　the　Langmuir　and　pseudo-second　order　kinetic　models,　demonstrating　monomolecular-layer-controlled　chemisorption.　And　the　maximum　sorption　capacity　was　73.69　​mg　​g−1.　Electrostatic　interactions　and　ligand　exchange,　which　enabled　the　development　of　an　La–O–P　inner-sphere　complexation,　were　identified　as　the　primary　mechanisms　of　phosphate　removal.　This　research　provides　insights　into　the　optimal　conditions　and　mechanism　of　phosphate　adsorption　by　La-MOFs.　©　2023　Chinese　Materials　Research　Society