The　synthesis　conditions　of　zeolitic　imidazolate　framework-8　(ZIF-8)　have　been　optimized　by　a　response　surface　method　using　central　composite　design　(CCD)　to　obtain　the　high　adsorption　capability　for　the　Pb(II)　removal　in　aqueous　solution.　The　physic-chemical　properties　of　the　as-prepared　ZIF-8,　such　as　morphology,　structure　and　chemical　composition,　were　characterized　by　field　emission　scanning　electron　microscopy　(FE-SEM),　powder　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD)　and　energy-dispersive　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　(XPS),　respectively.　The　adsorption　capability,　influence　factors,　isotherms,　thermodynamics,　kinetics　and　mechanism　of　Pb(II)　in　aqueous　solutions　were　investigated.　The　optimal　parameters　of　which　have　the　highest　adsorption　capability　for　Pb(II)　were　200　mL　of　water　as　the　solvent,　and　the　molar　mass　ratio　of　2-methylimidazole　and　Zn(NO　)　O　was　45.63.　At　this　condition,　the　as-prepared　ZIF-8　was　a　pure　hexagonal　three-dimensional　crystal3　2·6H2　structure.　The　equilibrium　adsorption　capacity　up　to　668　mg/g　for　300　mg/L　of　initial　Pb(II)　solutions　and　the　adsorption　was　a　spontaneous　process.　The　largest　adsorption　capacity　from　Langmuir　isotherm　model　was　686.25　mg/g.　The　adsorption　kinetics　followed　the　pseudo-second-order　model.　The　equilibrium　adsorption　time　and　the　optimal　adsorption　pH　was　4　h　and　6.0–7.0,　respectively.　The　ZIF-8　still　kept　well　adsorption　effect　after　three　times　of　usage.　Therefore,　this　study　showed　that　ZIF-8　is　a　promising　sorbent　for　removing　environmental　pollutants.　©　2018　Desalination　Publications.　All　rights　reserved.