In this work, graphitic-C3N4 (g-C3N4) was synthesized by a simple and environmentally friendly salt melt method, and characterized by using field-emission scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and N-2 adsorption-desorption analysis. The as-prepared g-C3N4 was used as an adsorbent to remove heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions. The adsorption kinetics of Pb(II) and Cu(II) followed the pseudo-second-order model. The g-C3N4 exhibited much higher adsorption capacity toward heavy metal ions (1.36 mmol/g for Pb(II), 2.09 mmol/g for Cu(II), 1.00 mmol/g for Cd(II) and 0.64 mmol/g for Ni(II)) than other adsorbents. The adsorption of Pb(II) and Cu(II) on g-C3N4 was slightly affected by ionic strength at pH < 5.0 and increased with the increase of ionic strength at pH > 5.0. The inner-sphere surface complexation mechanism was suitable to explain the interaction between heavy metal ions and the nitrogen- and carbon-containing functional groups of the g-C3N4. The experimental results reveal that g-C3N4 is a potential adsorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions from large volumes of aqueous solutions. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.