One hydroxyaluminum-montmorillonite complex (HyAl-Mt), two hydroxyiron-montmorillonite complexes (HyFe-Mts) with different iron contents, and three hydroxyiron/aluminum-montmorillonite complexes (HyFeAl-Mts) with various Fe:AI molar ratios were synthesized. Behavior and kinetics of phosphate (P) sorption on selected Mt-complexes mentioned above were investigated under acidic conditions. The results indicated that the intercalations of polymeric HyFe and/or HyAl ions in interlayers of Na- saturated montmorillonite (Na-Mt) caused significant changes in surface properties of the Na-Mt, Such as cation exchange capacity, specific surface area, pH at zero point of charge. In pH range tested (3.0-6.5), P adsorption on the Mt-complexes decreased with increasing pH, whereas the effect became weaker with increasing Fe contents in the Mt-complexes. The adsorption capacities of the HyFeAl-Mts were greater than those of the HyAl-Mt and HyFe-Mt, which could be attributed to decreasing crystallinity of Fe and Al oxides in the HyFeAl-Mts. The equilibrium adsorption of P on the Mt-complexes could be well described using the Langmuir isotherm, and the kinetics of P adsorption could be well described by both the pseudo-second-order and Elovich models. An increase in Fe contents in the Mt-complexes could enhance the initial kinetic rate of P adsorption, as suggested by the Elovich models. it is inferred that a great number of Fe-related active sorption sites have been located oil the outer surfaces of the HyFe-Mt, as indicated by extremely high alpha value in the Elovich model. Previous studies focusing mainly oil P sorption on HyAl-Mt complexes might have underestimated the contributions of Mt-complexes to P retention in acidic soils high in Fe contents. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.