Removal of Cu(II) and Pb(II) by adsorption onto activated carbon was examined in single- and binary -component aqueous solutions representative of contaminated solutions containing heavy metals. Reversibility of adsorption of the heavy metals on the activated carbon was evaluated by desorption experiments. The number of the maximum adsorption sites and adsorption equilibrium constants of Cu(II) and Pb(II) were estimated by the results of single-component systems assuming the Langmuir adsorption model. The adsorption sites per grain of activated carbon resulted in similar values for Cu(II) and Pb(II) from the isotherms. The adsorption constant for Pb(II) was nearly 1.8 times greater than that of Cu(II). Rate constants of adsorption and desorption were also estimated from the kinetic analysis. Using the single set of common parameters obtained from the single-component systems, the experimental results for a binary -component system were quantitatively predicted. Competitive adsorption of Cu(II) and Pb(II) on the same adsorption sites was confirmed by both experimental and predicted results of adsorption in the binary mixture. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.