In this study, sporopollenin of Lycopodium clavatum spores was used for sorption experiments. (E)-4-((2-hydroxyphenylimino) methyl) benzoic acid (HPBA) immobilized sporopollenin (Sp) was employed as a sorbent in sorption of selected heavy metal ions in aqueous solutions. The sorbent material was prepared with sequential treatment of sporopollenin with silanazing compound and HPBA. Experimental conditions for effective sorption of heavy metal ions were optimized with respect to different experimental parameters using the batch method in detail. pHs for maximum sorption of Cu(II) ≡ Ni(II) and Co(II) ions were found in six and five, respectively. Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm equations were applied to the experimental data. Thermodynamic parameters such as free energy (ΔGo), entropy (ΔSo), and enthalpy (ΔHo) were also calculated from the sorption results and were used to explain the mechanism of the sorption. The results indicated that this sorbent is successfully employed in the separation of trace Cu(II), Ni(II), and Co(II) from the aqueous solutions. © 2013 Balaban Desalination Publications. All rights reserved.