A novel adsorbent NH2/MCM-41/NTAA, capable of simultaneous adsorption of cations and anions from aqueous solution, was prepared by immobilization of amine and nitrilotriacetic acid anhydride (NTAA) onto MCM-41. The structures and properties before and after surface modification were systematically investigated through X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM), nitrogen adsorption-desorption, and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetry (TGA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). They together confirm that the amine and NTAA group were chemically bonded to the internal surface of the mesoporous. The NH2/MCM-41/NTAA were used to adsorb Pb2+ and MnO4- in an aqueous solution in a batch system, and the maximum adsorption efficiency was found to occur at pH 5.0 and 3.0, respectively. NH2/MCM-41/NTAA exhibit preferable removal of Pb2+ through electrostatic interactions and chelation, whereas it captures MnO4- by means of electrostatic interactions. The experimental data are fitted the Langmuir isotherm model reasonably well, with the maximum adsorption capacity of 147 mg/g for Pb2+ and of 156 mg/g for MnO4-. The adsorption rates of both Pb2+ and MnO4- are found to follow the pseudo-second order kinetics. Furthermore, the NH2/MCM-41/NTAA adsorbent performs good recyclability and reusability for 5 cycles use. This study indicates a potential applicability of NH2/MCM-41/NTAA as new absorbents for effective simultaneous adsorption of hazardous metal ions and anions from wastewater. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.