Synthesis of 11-molybdo-vanadophosphoric acid supported on Zr modified mesoporous silica SBA-15 has been carried out to develop new and efficient composite adsorbent of samarium and dysprosium metal ions in aqueous solution. The preparation was performed using two stages. Initially, the surface of mesoporous silica was modified with Zr ions in ethanol solution and then heteropoly acid was encapsulated using aqueous incipient wetness onto pores of mesoporous silica. The obtained products were characterized by inductively coupled plasma (ICP), XRD, N-2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), zeta potential analyzer and FT-IR. In order to examine adsorption behavior of this compound for samarium and dysprosium removal in aqueous solutions, the effect of pH, contact time, concentration of metal ions and temperature were investigated under batch system conditions. The results suggest that this methodology provides the general synthesis of supported heteropolymetalate with large surface areas, and ordered nanoporous structures that can be used as an adsorbent for efficient removal of lanthanide metal ions from aqueous solution. Published by Elsevier B.V.