The adsorption of Cu2+ and Pb2+ from aqueous solution was studied by modified corncob which was modified with tartaric acid. The results indicated that the conditions of adsorbing Cu2+ and Pb2+ from aqueous solution are that under the room temperature, the value of pH is 5,adsorption time is 120 min, the modified corncob quantity is 0.5 g, the initial concentration of water sample is 50 mg/L. Under this situation, the ratio of elimination of the modified corncob was 68% and 94% while the common one was 25% and 65% for Cu2+ and Pb2+, respectively. Pseudo-second-order equation was implemented to express the sorption mechanism by modified corncob. The process of adsorption were better fitted to the Freundlich model. Pb2+ was more easily adsorbed by modified corncob because modified corncob has capacity of choosing heavy metal ions. The study has a certain reference value for the treatment of water which was contaminated by heavy metal ions.