Cellulose supported layered double hydroxides (CSLDHs) were synthesized and tested for adsorption of fluoride in aqueous medium. Three samples of cellulose supported LDHs were synthesized by varying the LDH loading on cellulose. The raw cellulose, unsupported LDH and cellulose supported LDHs were characterized by XRD, SEM and BET surface area. Batch adsorption as well as fixed-bed column experiments were performed for determining the fluoride adsorption characteristics of CSLDHs. The fluoride adsorption properties of CSLDHs were found to be superior to that of reported adsorbents, including activated alumina and carbon nanotubes. Defluoridation capacity of the CSLDHs was 2-4 times higher than that of unsupported LDH. The cellulose supported LDH, CSLDH-50, having an LDH loading of 27% showed maximum fluoride uptake capacity (5.29 mg g(-1) of CSLDH, 25.18 mg g(-1) of LDH) in fixed-bed column study. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.