This study investigated the adsorption characteristics of nickel, zinc and cadmium ions from the aqueous solution onto the alginate bead. Adsorption equilibrium capacities of the heavy metal ions increased with increasing initial pH of the solution. The adsorption equilibrium isotherm of the heavy metal ions was well represented by Langmuir equation. The magnitude of adsorption capacity of the heavy metal ions onto alginate bead was the order of cadmium > zinc > nickel. Kinetic parameters were measured in a batch adsorber to analyze the adsorption rates of the heavy metal ions. The internal diffusion coefficient of the heavy metal ions in the intraparticle were determined by comparing the experimental concentration curves with those predicted from the surface diffusion model (SDM) and pore diffusion model (PDM). The internal diffusion of the heavy metal ions in the intraparticles was explained by PDM.