Ion-exchange　induced　adsorption　behaviors　of　heavy　metals　onto　the　titanate　nanomaterials　is　essential　to　facilitate　their　application　for　removing　heavy　metals　from　the　aquatic　environment.　This　study　evaluates　the　adsorption　mechanisms　of　Pb(II)　on　hydrogen　(TNs-H)　and　sodium　(TNs-Na)　titanate　materials　synthesized　through　a　facile　one-step　hydrothermal　method　followed　by　washing　with　acid　and　water.　The　physical–chemical　properties　of　the　TNs　including　morphology,　structure,　surface　area　and　chemical　composition　were　studied,　and　the　adsorption　capacity　of　TNs　to　Pb(II)　was　tested.　The　results　showed　that　TNs　were　pure　monoclinic　titanate　with　plate　morphology　and　specific　surface　area　of　~246　m　2　/g.　The　adsorption　capacity　of　TNs-H　was　120　mg/g,　while　TNs-Na　reached　450　mg/g,　which　indicated　that　water-washing　with　large　interlayer　spacing　could　increase　the　adsorption　capacity　of　TNs.　The　adsorption　kinetics　followed　pseudo-second-order　model　and　the　equilibrium　data　were　best　fitted　with　Langmuir　isotherm　model.　After　six　runs　of　reuse,　the　adsorption　capacity　basically　remains　the　same.　Results　presented　here　would　facilitate　titanate　nanomaterials’　application　to　remove　heavy　metals　from　aquatic　environment.　©　2018　Desalination　Publications.　All　rights　reserved.