The faujasite-Y confined ammonium molybdophosphate (AMP-Y) were successfully synthesized for the first time using ammonium molybdophosphate and natural clay from Qaidam Basin as starting materials. The final products were characterized by XRF, XRD, FTIR, Al-27 and P-31 MAS NMR, and N-2 adsorption/desorption, which indicated that Qaidam natural clay is a promising low-cost precursor for the production of zeolite Y support. Various loadings of ammonium molybdophosphate could be well encapsulated in the supercage of Y zeolite using a 'build-bottle-around-ship' method. The resultant composite materials were effective for the adsorption of cesium ion from solution. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.