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Eutrophication, a process in which algae grow inordinately, adversely affects aqueous fauna. Phosphorous at levels above 0.1 mg/L is adequate to cause eutrophication. In this study, we aimed to reduce the amount of PO₄³⁻ in water using biodegradable and ecofriendly sorbents. Lanthanum oxide nanoparticles were doped in agar and cellulose sponge to produce two new sorbents, <i>agar–La</i> and <i>sponge–La</i>, respectively. Both sorbents showed high efficacy in remediating up to 10 mg/L PO₄³⁻ in water. <i>Sponge–La</i> was found to be more proficient in terms of adsorption than <i>agar–La</i> because it required just 1 h to achieve 80% adsorption when the initial concentration of PO₄³⁻ was 10 mg/L. <i>Sponge–La</i> was effective at pH levels ranging from 4 to 8, with a removal rate of 80–100%. Although <i>agar–La</i> displayed a slow sorption process, it presented a high adsorption capacity (156 mg/g); moreover, the cake-shaped <i>agar–La</i> could be easily manufactured and separated from an aqueous matrix or any water-based solutions. These two sorbents could effectively remove high concentrations of PO₄³⁻, and their preparation requires a simple step. <i>Agar–La</i> was easier to manufacture, whereas the adsorption process using <i>sponge–La</i> was more rapid. In addition, both sorbents can be easily separated from the matrix after sorption.