This research article published by IWA Publishing, 2019Capacitive deionization (CDI) is a promising and rapidly growing technology for water treatment and the electrode materials play a key role in improving CDI performance. In this study, high surface area activated carbon was prepared from chicken feather (CF) bio-waste through pyrolysis and KOH activation; the KOH:CF ratio (R) and activation temperature (Ta) were variable parameters. The material was characterized by using the Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) method, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The lead (Pb2+) removal test was performed with a CDI cell containing the fabricated carbon electrode and 100 mg L−1 Pb(NO3)2 solution; the sample prepared with the ratio R of 1:1 and Ta = 800 °C exhibited higher Pb2+ removal efficiency of 81% and electro sorption capacity of 4.1 mg g−1 at the electrode potential 1.2 V and flow rate 5 mL min−1. Therefore, CF-derived carbon is considered as a promising CDI electrode material for removal of heavy metals from waste water.