This paper investigated the ability of modified lava particles (MLP), a kind of modified surface media from volcanic eruption, to remove Cu(II) and Zn(II) from simulated smelting wastewater. The equilibrium adsorptive quantity was determined as a function of the initial pH, temperature, MLP dosage, and contact time in a batch test. The results showed that the metal ions uptake by MLP was rapid, and the equilibrium time was 8 h at 25ºC and pH 6, especially within 5-60 min, 80% equilibrium quantity was obtained. With the increase of initial pH value (from 3 to 6), the removal efficiency of Cu(II) and Zn(II) was also increase to 85.31% and 58.21%, respectively, but when pH was more than 6, sedimentation was found. Temperature and thermodynamic studies for the present adsorption process were performed at 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35ºC by determining the values of ΔGº and ΔHº, and it was confirmed that the adsorption process is endothermic and spontaneous. And the optimal MLP dosage of 10 g/L and 6 g/L were obtained for Cu(II) and Zn(II) removal, respectively. The mechanism of these two metal ions sorped by MLP was inferred that the hydroxide micro-precipitation and surface hydroxyl complex were predominant.