MgAl-LDHs can serve as host matrixes to control the release of PO43− ions.
The memory effect was explored to increase the intercalation capacity of MgAl-LDHs.
Adsorption and precipitation are concomitant mechanisms in the PO43− uptake.
The PO43− release was better described by the Higuchi model with R2 = 0.92.
MgAl-LDHs returned to a pure LDH phase composition after PO43− desorption.