Method for removing fluorine-containing compound from waste water

A method for removing a fluorine-containing compound from discharge water, comprising:

• bringing discharge water containing two or more fluorine-containing compounds represented by the following general formula (1) or (2) into contact with an adsorbent to allow the adsorbent to adsorb the two or more fluorine-containing compounds:
• (H—(CF2)m—COO)pM1 General Formula (1)
• wherein m is 3 to 19, M1 is H, a metal atom, NRb4, where Rb's are the same or different and are each independently H or an organic group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, imidazolium optionally having a substituent, pyridinium optionally having a substituent, or phosphonium optionally having a substituent;
• and p is 1 or 2,
• (H—(CF2)n—SO3)qM2 General Formula (2)
• wherein n is 4 to 20;
• M2 is H, a metal atom, NRb4, where Rb's are the same or different and are each independently H or an organic group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, imidazolium optionally having a substituent, pyridinium optionally having a substituent, or phosphonium optionally having a substituent;
• and q is 1 or 2,
• wherein the discharge water contains at least a fluorine-containing compound represented by the general formula (1) where m is 19 as the fluorine-containing compound.