Gibbsite and boehmite are not only widely distributed aluminum hydroxide minerals in soil and water, but also important industrial raw materials and products. Their adsorption with inorganic non-metallic ions, inorganic metal ions, and organic compounds in the environment significantly affects the migration and enrichment of substances in the ground environment and the adsorption and removal of environmental pollutants. Due to structural characteristics and surface properties, their also have critical applications in the studying of efficient and economical adsorbents. Based on summarizing the structure and surface physicochemical properties of gibbsite and boehmite, this article reviews the adsorption behavior of various non-metallic ions, metal ions, and organic compounds on the surface of gibbsite and boehmite, with the hope of deepening the understanding of the role of aluminum hydroxide minerals in the cycling of ground environmental substances and expanding their industrial applications.