The adsorption characteristics of cadmium and nickel onto expanded perlite from aqueous solution have been investigated with respect to changes in pH of solution, adsorbent dosage, contact time and temperature of the solution. The maximum removal efficiency of Cd (II) is 88.8% at pH 6 and exposure to 10 g/L expanded perlite, while for Ni (II), it is 93.3% at the same pH and exposure to 8 g/L adsorbent. For the adsorption of both metals, the Freundlich isotherm model fitted the equilibrium data better than the Langmuir isotherm model. Experimental data are also evaluated in terms of kinetic characteristics of adsorption and it was found that the adsorption process for both metal ions follows well pseudo-second-order kinetics. Thermodynamic functions, the change of free energy (ΔG°), enthalpy (ΔH°) and entropy (ΔS°) of adsorption are also calculated for each metal ion. The results show that the adsorption of these metal ions on expanded perlite is feasible and exothermic at 20-50°C.