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.　©　2019　Elsevier　Inc.