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Magnetic separation technology has been extensively used in the field of environmental problems, due to solving difficulties resulted from filtration and centrifuging. In this study, powder activated carbon (PAC) was magnetized by magnetite nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄@C) as an adsorbent for lead ions (Pb²⁺) from aqueous solution. The characteristics of the modified PAC were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffractometry, Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller surface area analysis, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted as a function of pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage and initial Pb²⁺ concentration, and solution temperature. The equilibrium isotherm and kinetic models were used to evaluate the fitness of the experimental data. The maximum mono‐layer adsorption capacity of Pb²⁺ was 71 …