In this study, citric acid was utilized to modify the surface of cellulose and the citric acidmodified cellulose (CAMC) was then used to remove Pb 2+ from aquatic solutions. The surface characteristics of CAMC were determined by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and zeta potential analyses. The exact effects of CAMC dosage, pH, and temperature on the adsorption of Pb 2+ by CAMC were determined. After 180 min of reaction, the adsorption percentages of Pb 2+ at 0.5, 1.5, and 2.5 g/L CAMC were 66, 87, and 94%, respectively. The Pb 2+ removal efficiency of CAMC increased with CAMC dosage, pH, and temperature. Experimental results reveal that the pseudo-second-order model best represents the adsorption kinetics. The Freundlich model fits the experimental isotherms better than does the Langmuir model. ΔH˚and ΔS˚were 43.34 kJ/mol and 224.4 J/mol K, respectively. The value of ΔH˚suggested that the Pb 2+ was adsorbed onto CAMC via physisorption.