This study compares the abilities of four low-cost materials: peels of peas, broad bean, and medlar, respectively and fig leaves, to remove cadmium from aqueous solutions. Kinetic data and equilibrium sorption isotherms were measured in batch conditions. Kinetics of cadmium sorption was contact time, initial cadmium concentration and sorbent type dependent. The results also showed that the kinetics of cadmium sorption were described by a pseudo second-order rate model. The cadmium uptake of these low-cost materials was quantitatively evaluated using sorption isotherms. Results indicated that Langmuir model gave an acceptable fit to the experimental data. A high cadmium sorption was observed by these materials. The broad bean peel was the most effective to remove cadmium ions with a maximum sorption capacity about 147.71 mg/g followed by peas peel (118.91 mg/g), fig leaves (103.09 mg/g), and medlar peel (98.14 mg/g). (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.