Biosorption using microbes has been proved to be an efficient technology to remove heavy metals from wastewater, whereas the imperfections in mechanical property and separation limit their practical application. In this study, Pseudomonas putida 13 and Talaromyces amestolkiae Pb respectively combined with xanthate-modified thiourea chitosan sponge (PXTCS and TXTCS) were synthesized to investigate the Pb (II) removal ability from solutions. The prepared biosorbents possessed a three-dimensional macroporous structure convenient for separation. Experimental data indicated their biosorption behaviors well followed the pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum biosorption capacities of PXTCS and TXTCS were 232.03 and 241.61 mg g (1) with 40% P. putida 13 and 15% T. amestolkiae Pb, respectively. For the effects of co-existing metal ions on Pb(II) biosorption, the promoting degree followed the sequence: Zn(II) > Na(I) approximate to K(I) > Ca(II) > Mg(II) approximate to Al(III) >> Cd(II) > Fe(III). Both prepared biosorbents were effective in removing heavy metals from simulated industrial effluents containing various trace-level heavy metals or high concentration Pb(II). (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.