The　reuse　of　zirconium-modified　red　mud　(Zr-RM)　as　a　phosphate　adsorbent　for　wastewater　treatment　was　assessed　herein.　The　physicochemical　properties　and　phosphate　adsorption　performance　of　Zr-RM　were　investigated,　revealing　a　single-layer　adsorption　pattern　according　to　the　Langmuir　isotherm　model.　The　adsorption　rate　followed　a　pseudo-second-order　model.　The　maximum　phosphate　adsorption　capacity　was　33.14　mg/g　and　was　positively　correlated　with　temperature　and　initial　phosphate　concentration,　and　negatively　correlated　with　the　solution　pH.　In　a　solution　containing　fluoride　and　sulfate　ions,　due　to　competitive　adsorption,　the　adsorption　capacity　of　phosphate　decreased.　The　material　and　wastewater　treatment　costs　of　Zr-RM　are　0.99　and　61.3　$/　kg　of　P,　respectively.　This　study　showed　a　potential　method　for　using　RM　with　high　value　for　environmental　protection.