Absorbent cotton, wood sawdust, buckwheat hull were thiol-functionalized to facilitate selective adsorption of Pb(II) from glucose solution. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis confirmed the formation of S-H modifications. While unmodified absorbent cotton had a Pb(II) adsorption capacity of 10.78 mg/g, thiol-modified absorbent cotton was able to adsorb 28.67 mg/g at optimum pH 6.0. The Pb(II) adsorption capacity increased as the concentration of Pb(II) or glucose increased without loss of glucose during the adsorption process. Wood sawdust and buckwheat hull exhibited greater Pb(II) uptake both before and after modification (wood sawdust: 17.03 mg/g and 43.14 mg/g, buckwheat hull: 34.06 mg/g and 44.84 mg/g), because these cellulosic biomass contained more helpful functional groups for metal binding. The results suggested that modified cellulosic biomass might be a promising adsorbent for heavy metal ion uptake in beverage industry. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.