Calcium phosphates starting from calcium carbonate and orthophosphoric acid as unconventional and low cost initial reactants were investigated in the removal from aqueous solution of lead(II) as model heavy metal. Sorbent in gel form, which was directly obtained from the reaction of calcium carbonate powder and orthophosphoric acid, and sorbent in powder form, which was obtained by filtration and drying of the gel at room temperature showed the highest reactivity for the removal of lead(II). The sorption capacity could reach up to 1226 mg of lead(II) per gram of powder sorbent. On the other hand, the conventional drying overnight at 105 C decreased the reactivity of the sorbent in powder form. The intermediates of the reaction between calcium carbonate and orthophosphoric acid, including brushite (CaHPO4 center dot 2H(2)O), monetite (CaHPO4) and MCPM (Ca(H2PO4)(2)center dot H2O) were found to be more active than hydroxyapatite (Ca-10(PO4)(6)(OH)(2)) which was the final stable product of the reaction between calcium carbonate and orthophosphoric acid. Lead hydroxyapatite (Pb-10(PO4)(6)(OH)(2)) was the main crystalline phase formed from the contact of calcium phosphate based sorbents with lead(II) nitrate solution. It was only formed at the external surface or surface of open-pores of calcium phosphate particles, highlighted by SEM characterization. The results obtained open new prospects for the design of efficient orthophosphate-based sorbents for the removal of lead(II) and other heavy metals from liquid effluents. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.