In this paper, the behaviors of aqueous zinc sorption by hydroxyapatite in the co-existence of Pb^2＋, Cd^2＋ and Cu^2＋ are investigated, the effects of Pb^2＋, Cd^2＋ and Cu^2＋ on the sorption of Zn^2＋ are discussed, and the hydroxyapatite sorption capabilities for Pb^2＋, Cd^2＋, Cu^2＋ and Zn^2＋ are compared. The experimental results show that the Zn^2＋ removal efficiency decreases gradually with the increase of the Cd^2＋ concentration of the solution, and there is no sorption preference between Cd^2＋ and Zn^2＋. On the other hand, the Zn^2＋ removal efficiency rapidly decreases rapidly with the increase of the Cu^2＋ concentration of the solution, and there is a clear sorption preference between Cu^2＋ and Zn^2＋. It is noticed that the Zn^2＋ removal efficiency is hardly changed with the variance of Pb^2＋ concentration because the removal mechanisms for these two ions are totally different. It is concluded that the adsorption affinities of the heavy metals for the hydroxyapatite follows this sequence： pb^2＋〉 Cu^2＋〉 Cd^2＋〉 Zn^2＋.