The invention relates to a phospho modified cellulose adsorbent, and a preparation method and application thereof. The technical scheme is as follows: the preparation method comprises the following steps: taking 1,3-dibromopropane and tributyl phosphite, carrying out reaction at 138-142 DEG C for 18-22 hours, and carrying out rotary evaporation at 115 DEG C under reduced pressure to obtain an intermediate product I; taking DMF (N,N-dimethylformamide), adding OCS and NaH in a nitrogen protective atmosphere, stirring in an ice water bath for 1 hour, removing the ice water bath, heating to 40-45 DEG C, reacting for 4 hours or so, adding the intermediate product I, mixing and stirring to react at room temperature for 24 hours, carrying out vacuum filtration, washing respectively with HCl and distilled water, and drying to obtain an intermediate product II; and in a nitrogen protective system, mixing the intermediate product II with ethanol, adding a KOH solution, stirring under reflux at 75 DEG C for 24-50 hours, carrying out vacuum filtration, washing respectively with HCl and distilled water to a neutral state, and drying. The adsorbent provided by the invention has high separation and enrichment efficiency, and can be used for selectively adsorbing scandium from a mixed rare earth ion solution.