Activated carbon prepared from Eichhornia was used for the adsorptive removal of Pb(II) from aqueous solution. As the raw material for the preparation of the activated carbon is an aquatic weed, the production of this carbon is expected to be economically feasible. Parameters such as agitation time, metal ion concentration, adsorbent dose and pH were studied. Adsorption equilibrium was reached in 100 min for a solution containing 15 mgdm(3) and 125 min for solutions containing 20 and 2 5 mgdm(3) Pb(II), respectively. Adsorption parameters were determined using both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The adsorption capacity was 16.61 mgg(-1) at pH 3.0 for particle sizes of 125-180 mum. Pb(II) removal increased as the pH increased from 2 to 4 and remained constant up to pH 10.0. Desorption studies were also carried out with dilute hydrochloric acid to recover both carbon and Pb(II). Quantitative desorption of Pb(II) from carbon indicates that adsorption of metal ion is by ion exchange.