FeCl3 was used t o prepare hydrous iron oxide (HIO) as a n absorbent for phosphate (P) sorption and desorption study. The results showed that as pH decreased, the sorption capacity of HIO increased, and the sorption kinetics followed the second-order model, and the sorption isotherm could be fitted by the Langmuir equation. A 50 g/L NaOH solution was used for desorption of P from HIO, and the desorption rate could be reached over 98% . No relation was found between desorption rate and adsorption capacity. Based on above results, HIO was applied to adsorption of P from supernatant of sludge thickener, and after desorption, more than 90% of P was recovered. According to the results obtained, an effective system for P removal and recovery from municipal wastewater was suggested, which includes the following processes: adsorption, desorption, regeneration of HIO, and of recovery of P from P-rich desorption solution.