Synthetic goethite and thermally treated goethite at different temperatures were used to remove phosphate from sewage. The effect of annealing temperature on phosphate removal over time was investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N-2 adsorption and desorption (BET), and infrared emission spectrum (FT-IES) were utilized to characterize the phase, morphology, specific surface area, pore distribution, and the surface groups of samples. The results show that annealed products of goethite at temperatures over 250 degrees C are hematite with the similar morphology as the original goethite with different hydroxyl groups and surface area. Increasing temperature causes the decrease in hydroxyl groups, consequential increase in surface area at first and then experiences a decrease (14.8-110.4-12.6 m(2)/g) and the subsequent formation of nanoscale pores. The variation rate of hydroxyl groups and surface area based on FT-IES and BET, respectively, are used to evaluate the effect of annealing temperature on phosphate removal. By using all of the characterization techniques, it is concluded that the changes of phosphate removal basically result from the total variation rate between hydroxyl groups and surface area. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.