Abstract—Adsorption characteristics of Kuttanad clay, Laterite and Coastal alluvium were investigated for phosphate removal from aqueous solution employing a batch experimental setup. Various parameters studied include contact time, adsorbent dosage, pH, initial concentration, agitation speed and particle size. Characterization of adsorbents including Point of zero charge, SEM and EDS analysis were done. The results of this study showed that the optimum contact time for adsorption of phosphate on Kuttanad clay, laterite and coastal alluvium reached to equilibrium after 60 min, 120 min and 90 min with removal efficiency of 61.12%, 55.32% and 46.89%, respectively. Optimum adsorbent dosage for adsorption of phosphate on Kuttanad clay, laterite and Coastal alluvium was obtained at 17.5 g/L, 15 g/L and 17.5 g/L with removal efficiency of 77.5%, 68% and 49%, respectively. Higher adsorption of phosphate was observed at lower pH; obtained at pH 3, 2 and 2 with removal efficiency 84.39%, 77.49% and 55.78%, respectively. Adsorption of phosphate on the adsorbents were found to increase with increase in agitation speed and decrease in initial concentration and particle size. In the kinetic study, pseudo 1st order, pseudo 2nd order and intra-particle diffusion models were fitted to the adsorption process. Based on the experimental sorption capacity values compared with model values, the pseudo 1st order fitted more than pseudo 2nd order model. Intra particle diffusion plot shows that adsorption occurs in 3 steps, viz., boundary layer effect, intra-particle diffusion and pore diffusion for the selected adsorbents. In this study, the adsorption characteristic of phosphorus onto soil was investigated with the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Correlation coefficients indicate that the Freundlich isotherm model was applied more effectively than the Langmuir model to phosphate sorption onto the Kuttanad clay, Laterite and Coastal alluvium. Overall, the present study suggests that the selected adsorbents are environmental friendly and low-cost adsorbents, which is useful for the removal of phosphate from aqueous media.