A　large　number　of　rare　earth　element　mining　and　application　resulted　in　a　series　of　problems　of　soil　and　water　pollution.　Environmental　remediation　of　these　REE-contaminated　sites　has　become　a　top　priority.　This　paper　explores　the　use　of　Bacillus　licheniformis　to　adsorb　lanthanum　and　subsequent　mineralization　process　in　contaminated　water.　The　maximum　adsorption　capacity　of　lanthanum　on　bacteria　was　113.98　mg/g　(dry　weight)　biomass.　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD)　and　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM)　data　indicated　that　adsorbed　lanthanum　on　bacterial　cell　surface　occurred　in　an　amorphous　form　at　the　initial　stage.　Scanning　electron　microscopy　with　X-ray　energy-dispersive　spectroscopy　(SEM/EDS)　results　indicated　that　lanthanum　adsorption　was　correlated　with　phosphate.　The　amorphous　material　was　converted　into　scorpion-like　monazite　(LaPO4　nanoparticles)　in　a　month.　The　above　results　provide　a　method　of　using　bacterial　surface　as　adsorption　and　nucleation　sites　to　treat　REE-contaminated　water.