Abstract Glucosamine was directly intercalated into γ-zirconium phosphate (γ-ZrP). The intercalation compound with a monolayer structure was obtained by the interaction between the 2-amino group of glucopyranose and the phosphate group in γ-ZrP. The uptake amount depended on the concentration of the glucosamine aqueous solution rather than reaction time, and reached 0.9 mmol per gram of γ-ZrP at the maximum. On the other hand, chitosan, polysaccharide of glucosamine, could be intercalated into alkylamine-intercalated γ-ZrP as the host compound. Chitosan-intercalated γ-ZrP showed two phases with different interlayer distances. It was confirmed from 13C CP/MAS NMR spectra that chitosan exists in the interlayer region of γ-ZrP for both phases.