Abstract The study was designed to investigate the use of two sorbents namely (i) Fe3O4 nanoparticles immobilized in sodium alginate matrix (FNPSA) and (ii) Fe3O4 nanoparticles and saponified orange peel residue immobilized in sodium alginate matrix (FNPSOPR) as sorbents for fluoride removal from contaminated water. The synthesized nanoparticles were analyzed and characterized by dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometry, and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier transform-infrared spectrometry. The sorbent matrices were prepared in the form of beads and surface functionalized to enable enhanced sorption of fluoride ions. Batch sorption studies were carried out and the sorption isotherm and reaction kinetics were analyzed. Both the sorbents followed Langmuir model of isotherm and fitted well with Pseudo first order reaction. The maximum sorption capacity exhibited by FNPSA and FNPSOPR was 58.24 mg·g- 1 and 80.33 mg·g- 1 respectively. Five sorption-desorption cycles exhibited 100%, 97.56%, 94.53%, 83.21%, and 76.53% of regeneration of FNPSOPR. Accordingly, it is demonstrated that FNSOPR could be used as a promising sorbent for easy and efficient removal of fluoride from contaminated water with good reusability. The current work suggests a simple and effective method to remove fluoride from contaminated water. © 2015 Elsevier B.V.