This study presents a column solid phase extraction procedure based on column biosorption of Cu(II), Zn(II) and Pb(H) ions on Penicillium digitatum immobilized on pumice stone. The analytes were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The optimum conditions such as: pH values, amount of solid phase, elution solution and flow rate of sample solution were evaluated for the quantitative recovery of the analytes. The effect of interfering ions on the recovery of the analytes has also been investigated. The recoveries of copper, zinc and lead under the optimum conditions were found to be 97 +/- 2, 98 +/- 2 and 98 +/- 2%, respectively, at 95% confidence level. For the analytes, 50-fold preconcentration was obtained. The analytical detection limits for Cu(II), Zn(II) and Pb(II) were 1.8, 1.3 and 5.8 ng mL(-1), respectively. The proposed procedure was applied for the determination of copper, zinc and lead in darn water, waste water, spring water, parsley and carrot. The accuracy of the procedure was checked by determining copper, zinc and lead in standard reference tea samples (GBW-07605). (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.