A　novel　oxidized　hollow　carbon　sphere　(OHCS)　as　absorbent　for　the　removal　of　Pb2+　was　fabricated　from　the　mixture　of　coal-tar　pitch　and　aluminum　isopropoxide　followed　by　nitric　acid　oxidation.　The　as　prepared　OHCSs　were　characterized　by　FESEM,　TEM,　BET,　TG,　FTIR　and　XPS,　and　meanwhile　the　effects　of　adsorption　conditions　on　the　Pb2+　removal　were　investigated　by　batch　experiments.　Results　show　that　the　OHCSs　prepared　possess　discrete　cage-like　structures　and　well-defined　inner/outer　surface　features,　exhibiting　vertically　aligned　graphene-like　nanosheets　on　their　surfaces　with　mesoporous　nature　and　high　hydrophobicity.　The　maximum　absorption　capacity　for　Pb2+　of　the　OHCSs　can　reach　280.79　mg　g(-1)　at　the　optimum　condition.　The　adsorption　kinetic　of　Pb2+　onto　the　OHCSs　was　found　to　be　well　modeled　by　pseudo-second-order　kinetic　model,　and　the　experimental　equilibrium　data　were　represented　well　by　Langmuir　isotherm　model.　Moreover,　the　OHCSs　still　exhibit　excellent　adsorption　ability　and　stability　after　recycling　5　times,　indicating　its　excellent　reusability　performance.　Overall,　the　OHCS　is　a　promising　adsorbent　for　Pb2+　removal.　(C)　2019　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.