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In this study, a novel sodium alginate–streptomycin sulfate composite aerogel (Alg–Stre) was synthesized by using chemical grafting and vacuum freeze-drying techniques to remove heavy metal ions from water. The experimental results show that the prepared Alg–Stre can effectively remove heavy metal ions such as Pb2+ and Cu2+ from water. Among these ions, Alg–Stre demonstrated the best removal effects for Pb2+ (99.8%, 0.1 mM) and Cu2+ (94.6%, 0.1 mM) in water. The utmost adsorption capacities of Alg–Stre for Pb2+ and Cu2+ are 280 mg g−1 and 160.2 mg g−1, respectively, which are competitive with those of most reported Pb2+- or Cu2+-sorbents. In addition, the adsorption abilities of Alg–Stre for Pb2+ and Cu2+ remained stable in solution pH values of 3.0 to 6.0 and at ambient temperatures of 20 °C to 50 °C. The simple preparation process, high removal efficiency, suitability for different environments and conditions, and recyclability of Alg–Stre confirm the broad application prospects of this material in the field of sewage disposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]