The depletion of global phosphate rock stores and the energy intensity of ammonia production provide motivation for identifying alternative sources of these essential nutrients. The recovery of nutrients from wastewaters may be a viable nutrient source. Adsorption offers a highly efficient and stable, low cost technology for phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) removal; desorption of the nutrients from the sorbent will allow phosphorus and nitrogen to be easily recycled using nutrient recycling technologies. The purpose of this research was to review literature that addressed the use of conventional and innovative adsorbents for nitrogen and phosphorus recovery from wastewaters.