This study investigated the chemical modifications of coal fly ash treated with HCl and NaOH. Sorption behavior of phosphate from water solution on treated fly ash was examined. Results showed that the HCl-treated fly ash (TFA-HCl) had a greater specific surface area (SSA) than the NaOH-treated fly ash (TFA-NaOH) and untreated fly ash (FA). The XRF, XRD patterns, and SEM images revealed the decreased CaO content in the TFA-HCl and observed the presence of NaP1 and socialite zeolites in the TFA-NaOH. The P sorption capacity of all studied fly ashes increased with increasing initial P concentration and mechanisms of P sorption were influenced by the equilibrium pH. Maximum phosphate immobilization capacity obtained from Langmuir model was in the following manner, TFA-NaOH > FA > TFA-HCl (57.14, 23.20, and 6.90 mg P g(-1), respectively). The decreased CaO content and acidic pH in the TFA-HCl were responsible for the lowest capacity of phosphate immobilization, because of unfavorable condition for calcium phosphate precipitation. In contrast, due to alkaline condition and relatively high calcium content, the precipitation of calcium phosphate was a key mechanism for phosphate removal in the FA and TFA-NaOH. The TFA-NaOH had a greatest phosphate immobilization, due to high CaO content and an increased SSA after the conversion of fly ash to zeolite. Both Langmuir and Freundlich models were good fitted for the TFA-NaOH, while was only Langmuir model for the FA and Freundlich model for the TFA-HCl Results suggested that treating fly ash with alkaline solution was a promising way to enhance phosphate immobilization. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.