The 86-92% mineral, 62-220 m(2)/g, 3.7-9.4-nm av. pore-radius mineral-carbon sorbents used in two 100x12(⊘)-cm parallel absorbers, bed vol. 10 or 20 l., removed Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cd in 94.7-99.8% and Pb in 68.2%. The 86%-mineral, 110-m(2)/g, 4.9-nm sorbent was most effective provided the final pH of the wastewater was ∼ 9. Modification of the sorbent with alkaline and S compds. proved advantageous.