An inexpensive and effective adsorbent was developed from bagasse fly ash, obtained from a sugar industry, for the dynamic uptake of lead and chromium. Lead and chromium are sorbed by the developed adsorbent up to 96-98%. The removal of these two metal ions up to 95-96% was achieved by column experiments at a flow rate of 0.5 ml min(-1). The adsorption was found to be exothermic in nature. The adsorbent was successfully tried for the removal of lead and chromium from wastewater in our laboratory. The developed system for the removal of two ions is very useful, economic, rapid, and reproducible. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.