Polyvinylpyrrolidone　(PVP)　dispersant　was　added　to　Ce/Zr　metal–organic　frameworks　(MOFs),　forming　needle-like　PVP@Ce/Zr-MOFs　adsorbents　via　the　hydrothermal　method.　The　effects　of　solution　pH,　co-existing　ions,　reaction　temperature,　and　PVP　dosage　on　the　performance　of　fluoride　and　phosphate　elimination　from　aqueous　solution　were　examined　in　batch　adsorption　experiments.　The　sorption　behaviors　were　also　revealed　through　adsorption　thermodynamic　and　kinetic　studies.　The　PVP@Ce/Zr-MOFs　had　an　outstanding　selectivity　over　a　wide　pH　range.　In　addition,　they　selectively　adsorbed　phosphate　and　fluoride　ions　co-existing　with　common　ions　in　simulated　and　real　wastewater　and　maintained　high　efficiency　in　the　existence　of　other　anions.　The　sorption　procedure　was　depicted　with　the　pseudo-second　order　model　and　the　Langmuir　model.　A　mechanistic　analysis　revealed　that　fluoride　and　phosphorus　were　eliminated　by　PVP@Ce/Zr-MOFs　via　exchange　interaction　with　hydroxide　ions,　electrostatic　interactions　with　charged　particles　on　the　adsorbent　surface,　and　the　formation　of　strong　inner-sphere　complexes　of　Zr　and　Ce　ions　with　the　target　phosphate　and　fluoride　ions.　©　2025　Elsevier　B.V.