The adsorption of heavy metal lead ions and cadmium ions in water by Akebia trifoliata var. australis pectin was determined， and the effects of solution pH， initial ion mass concentration， temperature and adsorption time on the adsorption capacity and adsorption rate of lead ions and cadmium ions were investigated. The results indicated that the variables studied significantly affected the adsorption of lead ions and cadmium ions by pectin. It was also observed that the adsorption Pb2+ and Cd2+ by pectin was pH dependent and the optimum adsorption pH was 5.0. The Akebia trifoliata var. australis pectin could adsorb lead ions and cadmium ions at a fast rate， they almost achieved adsorption equilibrium after 40 min and the adsorption capacity and adsorption rate were decreased with the increase of temperature. Adsorption thermodynamics analysis showed that the adsorption of lead ions and cadmium ions by pectin was a non-spontaneous and exothermic process. The adsorption process was simulated by the Langmuir and Freundlich models. It was found that the fitting effect of Freundlich equation was better than that of Langmuir equation， indicating that the adsorption of lead ions and cadmium ions on Akebia trifoliata var. australis pectin was multi-layer adsorption. The kinetic data were analyzed using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models， and kinetics of Pb2+ and Cd2+ adsorption by pectin was better described by the pseudo-second-order equation. The adsorption rate was controlled by chemisorption. In summary， Akebia trifoliata var. australis pectin had a high ability to adsorb heavy metal ions and could be used as an alternative adsorbent to treat industrial wastewater containing lead ions and cadmium ions to reduce heavy metal pollution.