MCM-41(Mobil's Composition of Matter-41# and expanded graphite#EG# were investigated as potential adsorbents for heavy metal ions including Pb#II#, Cu#II# and Ni#II# in various aqueous chemistries. MCM-41 showed shorter equilibrium times and higher adsorption capacities for all three heavy metal ions compared to expanded graphite. The adsorption of three heavy metal ions was significantly affected by the solution pH due to the competition with H3O+ at lower pH and precipitation at neutral or higher pH. Adsorptions of heavy metal ions onto MCM-41 and expanded graphite were successfully described with the pseudo-second-order model. During the competitive adsorption of three heavy metal ions, the selectivity of Pb#II# was highest and almost same selectivity was observed with Cu#II# and Ni#II# when MCM-41 was used as an adsorbent, while the expanded graphite exhibited the highest selectivity to Pb#II#, followed by Ni#II# and Cu#II).