Highly　efficient　and　sustainable　conversion　technologies　to　generate　uniform　sodalite　(Na-8(AlSiO4)(6)(OH)(2))　zeolite　microspheres　with　low-grade　waste　natural　diatomite　as　raw　materials　via　a　solution-mediated　crystallization　route　were　developed　in　the　present　study.　The　synthesis　process　can　be　considered　as　an　in-situ　zeolitization　of　diatomite　precursor　without　involving　any　mesoscale　template　and　any　post-synthetic　modification.　The　mass　ratios　of　diatomite　and　AlCl3　center　dot　6H(2)O　have　remarkable　effect　on　the　morphology,　crystal　structure　and　porosity　of　sodalite　zeolite　product.　The　preferred　sodalite　microspheres　with　uniform　mesoporous　of　size　3.5-5.5　nm　and　large　surface　area　of　162.5　m(2)/g　exhibit　well　removal　performance　for　heavy　metal　ions　(Pb(II),　Cd(II),　Zn(II),　and　Cu(II)),　with　the　highest　adsorption　abilities　for　Pb(II)　ions　of　365　mg/g.　In　addition,　the　effect　of　contact　time,　initial　ion　concentration,　competitive　adsorption　and　solution　pH　were　evaluated.　The　removal　performance　results　from　synergistic　effects　of　dominating　cation-exchange　and　additional　surface　chemisorption.　The　study　may　broadly　help　unveil　chemical　control　reactions　of　the　zeolitization　processes　of　diatomite,　and　thus　facilitates　the　development　of　promising　zeolite　materials　for　the　use　in　natural　and　engineered　aquatic　environments　by　recycling　waste　diatomite　resources.　(C)　2020　The　Research　Center　for　Eco-Environmental　Sciences,　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.