The presence of heavy metals in aquatic systems has become a serious problem. Heavy metals can have adverse effects on the environment as well as on human health. As a result, much attention has been given to new technologies for removal of heavy metal ions from contaminated waters. In this study, Microwave Incinerated Rice Husk Ash (MIRHA), a locally available agricultural waste, was used for the removal of Cd (as a representative heavy metal) from synthetic wastewater by batch adsorption process. The effects of pH, initial metal concentration, and contact time on Cd removal efficiency were studied. pH 4 was found to be the optimum. The removal efficiency was found to be correlated with the initial metal concentration and contact time between adsorbent and adsorbate. Cd adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model and implied chemisorption. The adsorption equilibrium of Cd can be well described by the Freundlich isotherm model. © 2012 Universiti Putra Malaysia Press.