This study examines the synthesis of SBA-15 with tailored pore sizes through controlled thermal treatment for the adsorption of Pb and Cd ions. The aim is to produce a material that can adsorb heavy metals at both high and low concentrations. The materials were characterised by means of N-2 physisorption, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), microanalysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The surface areas ranged from 410 to 871 m(2) g(-1) and pore diameter was increased from 5.9 to 10.8 nm. This method allows for maximum adsorption of metal ions at very low concentrations. Metal ion adsorption was determined using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The effects of pH were found to play a major role in the precipitation and, therefore, adsorption of metal ions. This method proved to be efficient at adsorbing large quantities of both metals (39 and 41 mg g(-1) for Pb and Cd, respectively). (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.