Abrstract A hybrid zirconium phytate (Zr x IP 6 ) with porous surface was synthesized via the direct precipitation method. The as-prepared Zr x IP 6 was characterized by SEM, EDS, FT-IR. The sample obtained from P/Zr=3:1(mol/mol) indicated that a hybrid material might be formed through coordination of the zirconium ions with the -COPO 3 groups in phytic acid molecules. An attempt to employ the hybrid Zr x IP 6 as a sorbent in the removal of fluoride ions in metal-precoating wastewater was performed. The adsorption capacity q e and the residual F -ions concentration C e using the Zr x IP 6 (P/Zr=3:1) as an adsorbent, were 1.21 mg.g -1 and 1.47 mg.L -1 , respectively.