Ce-La-MOFs　composites　was　fabricated　via　the　hydrothermal　method,　and　considered　an　adsorbent　to　remove　fluoride　from　aqueous　solutions,　and　its　property　for　defluoridation　was　discussed　in　this　work.　This　study　evaluated　the　ideal　preparation　molar　ratio,　adsorption　period,　and　initial　fluoride　concentration.　The　adsorption　mechanism　was　deduced　from　the　analysis　of　thermodynamics,　kinetics　models,　and　characterization　(SEM,　XRD,　FTIR,　EDS,　BET,　TG).　Furthermore,　the　impact　of　co-existing　ions　on　the　removal　efficiency　and　regeneration　of　adsorbents　was　investigated.　The　studies　have　shown　that　the　optimum　conditions　for　defluoridation　by　Ce-La-MOFs　were　pH　close　to　3.0,　the　molar　ratio　of　lanthanum-nitrate,　cerium-nitrate,　and　2-aminoterephthalic　acid　(La:　Ce:　ATPA)　equal　to　3:1:2,　the　initial　F−　concentration　of　10　mg　L−1,　and　the　adsorption　time　of　120　min.　Under　these　conditions,　the　removal　efficiency　can　exceed　90%.　The　interference　experiments　suggested　that　the　adsorbent　material　was　highly　selective　for　F−.　The　existence　of　most　additional　ions　has　a　limited　influence　on　the　adsorption　capacity,　with　only　a　minimal　amount　having　an　inhibitory　effect.　Kinetic　and　thermodynamic　studies　unveiled　that　the　adsorption　procedure　is　well-fitted　with　the　Langmuir　and　pseudo-second-order　models,　and　reaches　a　maximum　Langmuir　adsorption　capacity　of　138.64　mg　g−1　at　50　°C.　The　adsorption　process　involved　the　integration　of　ion　exchange　and　electrostatic　interaction　mechanisms.　The　regeneration　cycle　experiments　showed　that　the　Ce-La-MOFs　composites　had　a　favorable　regeneration　ability.　After　four　regenerations,　the　adsorption　capacity　still　reached　36.25　mg　g−1　with　73%　removal　efficiency　at　C0　=　10　mg　L–1.　©　2023　Elsevier　B.V.