<p>In the context of a circular economy, rare earth elements (REEs) are indispensable due to their pivotal applications including electronic devices, high-strength, long-lasting magnets, green energy, lasers, vehicle catalytic converters, fiber superconductors/optics, etc. A novel eco-friendly gelatin-montmorillonite-copper molybdate G-M-CuMo composite has been synthesized through a homogeneous precipitation method, demonstrating significant potential for the effective sorption of lanthanum and praseodymium from aqueous solutions. The as-synthesized G-M-CuMo composite has been comprehensively characterized using different analytical methods, such as: FTIR, XRD, TGA-DTA, EDX and SEM. Introducing gelatin and montmorillonite into copper molybdate can provide more functional groups and active sites for binding La³⁺ and Pr³⁺ ions. The influence of various factors on the adsorption efficiency such as contact time, solution pH, adsorbent dose, temperature and initial ions concentrations were also investigated. The results indicate that G-M-CuMo composite exhibits adsorption efficiencies of 93.52% and 88.65% for La(III) and Pr(III) ions, respectively, at a pH of 3, with an initial concentration of 100&#xa0;mg/L and a volume-to-mass ratio of 100, over a duration of 4&#xa0;h at room temperature. Moreover, the sorption process aligns more closely with the pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm model. The desorption of lanthanum and praseodymium from loaded G-M-CuMo composite is performed by different eluants. The results derived from the thermodynamic analyses indicate that the sorption of La(III) and Pr(III) onto G-M-CuMo composite is characterized as a spontaneous and endothermic process. Ultimately, G-M-CuMo composite can&#xa0;be applied as a promising candidate for preconcentration and separation of some lanthanides from monazite solutions.</p>