Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnOnp) are molecular nanoparticles synthesized by a chemical precipitation method from zinc nitrate tetrahydrate and sodium hydroxide. Carbonized sawdust (CSD) was prepared from sawdust obtained from a local wood mill. The matrix of both provides a better material as an adsorbent. The present study applied the functionality of ZnOnp

CSD

and ZnOnp-CSD matrix as adsorbent materials for the removal of Pb (Ⅱ) ions from aqueous solution. The method of batch process was employed to investigate the potential of the adsorbents. The influence of pH

contact time

initial concentration of adsorbate

the dosage of adsorbents

and the temperature of adsorbate-adsorbent mixture on the adsorption capacity were revealed. The adsorption isotherm studies indicate that both Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms were suitable to express the experimental data obtained with theoretical maximum adsorption capacities (

q

m

) of 70.42

87.72

and 92.59 mg·g

-1

for the adsorption of Pb (Ⅱ) ions onto ZnOnp

CSD

and ZnOnp-CSD matrix

respectively. The separation factors (

R

L

) calculated showed that the use of the adsorbents

for the removal of Pb (Ⅱ) ions is a feasible process with

R

L

1. The thermodynamic parameters obtained revealed that the processes are endothermic

feasible

and spontaneous in nature at 25-50 ℃. Evaluation of the kinetic model elected that the processes agreed better with pseudo-second order where the values of rate constant (

k

2

) obtained for the adsorption of Pb (Ⅱ) ions onto ZnOnp

CSD

and ZnOnp-CSD matrix are 0.00149

0.00188

and 0.00315 g·mg

-1

·min

-1

respectively. The reusability potential examined for four cycles indicated that the adsorbents have better potential and economic value of reuse and the ZnOnp-CSD matrix indicates improved adsorbent material to remove Pb (Ⅱ) ions from aqueous solution.