Adsorption of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution onto a low cost adsorbent-the Eupatorium adenophorum spreng has been investigated to evaluate the effects of initial lead ion concentration, contact time, pH and temperature on the removal of Pb(II) systematically. The optimal pH value for Pb(II) adsorption onto the E. adenophorum spreng was found to be 5.0. Thermodynamic parameters such as standard Gibbs free energy (Delta G degrees), standard enthalpy (Delta H degrees), and standard entropy (Delta S degrees) were evaluated by applying the van't Hoff equation, which describes the dependence of equilibrium constant on temperature. The thermodynamics of Pb(II) adsorption onto the E. adenophorum spreng indicated that the adsorption was spontaneous and endothermic. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were used to analyze the equilibrium data at different temperatures and the equilibrium data were found to fit Freundlich isotherm equation better than Langmuir isotherm. The adsorption was analyzed using pseudo-second-order kinetic models. (c) 2009 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.