This work reports the results of the study for lead(II) binding by the natural and low cost biosorbent Symphoricarpus albus. Batch biosorption experiments demonstrated the high rate of lead(II) biosorption and the kinetic data were successfully described by a pseudo-second-order model. Biosorption of lead(II) onto S. albus biomass showed a pH-dependent profile and lead(II) biosorption was higher when pH or temperature was increased. As much as 88.5% removal of lead(II) is also possible in the multi-metal mixture. The Langmuir isotherm better fits the biosorption data and the monolayer biosorption capacity was 3.00 x 10(-4) mol g(-1) at 45 C. The biomass was characterized with FTIR and SEM analysis. Desorption studies revealed that the natural biomass could be regenerated using 10 mM HNO3 solution with about 99% recovery and reused in five biosorption-desorption cycles. Therefore, S. albus which is cheap, highly selective and easily regenerable seems to be a promising substrate to entrap lead(II) ions in aqueous solutions. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.