To　control　the　eutrophication　originating　from　phosphate　discharge,　a　novel　adsorptive　membrane　was　prepared　by　vacuum　filtrating　lanthanum　carbonate　modified　multi-walled　carbon　nanotubes　(LC@MWCNTs)　on　the　UF　membrane.　The　LC@MWCNTs　were　firstly　made　using　an　in-situ　method　by　adding　MWCNTs　to　LaCl3·7H2O　solution　and　forming　lanthanum　carbonate　under　alkaline　conditions.　The　adsorption　experiments　exhibited　that　the　maximum　adsorption　capacity　of　LC@MWCNTs　was　77.58　mg　P/g　at　pH　5.　And　the　phosphate　adsorption　by　LC@MWCNTs　was　not　predominantly　reliant　on　electrostatic　interaction,　but　rather　achieved　through　chemical　interactions.　Then,　the　prepared　LC@MWCNTs　membrane　was　systematically　evaluated　for　its　phosphate　removal　efficiency　and　anti-fouling　performance　during　filtration.　With　the　initial　phosphate　concentration　of　1　mg　P/L　and　membrane　flux　of　378　L·m−2　h−1,　the　phosphate　removal　by　LC@MWCNTs　membrane　approached　almost　100　%.　Moreover,　the　LC@MWCNTs　membrane　exhibited　higher　permeability　(281.6　L·m−2h−1bar−1)　and　effectiveness　for　humic　acid　(HA)　removal　(75　%),　and　LC@MWCNTs　membrane　mitigated　the　fouling　caused　by　HA.　XPS,　FTIR　and　XRD　elucidated　that　phosphate　removal　by　LC@MWCNTs　membrane　primarily　through　the　formation　of　La-O-P　inner-sphere　complexes　via　ligand　exchange,　resulting　in　the　formation　of　adsorption　product　LaPO4·0.5H2O.　Under　strong　alkaline　conditions,　the　LC@MWCNTs　membrane　rapidly　restored　its　phosphate　removal　performance　(30　min)　with　no　significant　detachment　of　the　LC@MWCNTs　layer,　indicating　its　good　recovery　and　reusability　performance.　Additionally,　the　LC@MWCNTs　membrane　could　continuously　remove　phosphate　from　actual　water,　confirming　its　potential　for　future　practical　applications.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd