In the present work, the lead phytoaccumulation by living free floating aquatic macrophytes Salvinia auriculata was investigated in a greenhouse. These plants were grown in lead-doped hydroponic solutions forming, as a function of time, six collections of nutrient media, roots and leaves of plants from a batch system. The synchrotron X-ray radiation fluorescence technique was used in order to determine element concentrations in the nutrient media, dry roots and aerial parts of plant. The aquatic plant-based lead removal data were described by using a non-structural kinetic model. According to the experimental data, both adsorption and bioaccumulation mechanism are present and a competition between the phosphorus macronutrient and lead for plant growth was observed, when great concentration of lead in roots is present. The non-structural kinetic models have shown good agreement with the lead uptake experimental data in all the investigated cases. The results of living macrophytes S. auriculata-based-metal bioaccumulation kinetic parameters can be used in artificial wetlands to predict the heavy metal removal dynamics from wastewaters. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.