The sorption of Ni from aqueous solution using fly ash, CaCO3 and sawdust preparations from pine (Pinus roxburghii) and cedar (Cedrus deodara) was investigated. Fly ash with a total of 90% Ni removal, was superior to CaCO3 (55%), sawdust from cedar (63%) orpine (41%) within 30 min. Fly ash was also an effective sorbent for Cd (79%) and Cu (75%). Ni was sequestered significantly by the dead biomass of Pseudomonas (60%) or Nostoc (41%) or Rhodopseudomonas (35%). Freundlich constants (K-F) based on the Freundlich isotherm of all the sorbents were in the sequence : fly ash (213.8) > Pseudomonas (169.8) > NoStoc (131.8) >sawdust from cedar (64.57) > CaCO3 (56.23) > Rhodopseudomonas (51.29) >sawdust from pine (44.67). The observations indicate the possible cost-effective deployment of fly ash, carbonates of calcium and plant parts with native resins as metal sorbents.