The present work describes the suitability of Na2SO4 to improve the wetability of a hydrophobic composite, ethylene vinyl acetate/Cloisite (R) 20A, to remove Pb2+ ions from aqueous solutions through adsorption. The composite was synthesized via melt-blending method. Scanning electron microscopy showed that suspending the composite in de-ionized water improved porosity resulting from the removal of Na2SO4. X-ray diffraction showed that the use of Na2SO4 improved the amorphous nature of the composites and hence increased wetability. The holes on the composite improved the contact area between Cloisite (R) 20A particles and Pb2+ ions. Equilibrium adsorption was achieved in 8 h with a 90% Pb2+ ion removal from synthetic wastewater. Kinetic and equilibrium models were applied to determine the type of adsorption mechanism involved. The results showed that the sorption of Pb2+ was found to be mainly based on physical interactions and ion-exchange mechanisms. It was established that the adsorption follow pseudo second-order rate equation and intraparticle diffusion was the rate determining step. The results showed that sorption mechanism assumed intraparticle diffusion implying that porous structure of the adsorbent influenced diffusion. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.