The surface properties of pine bark before and after the treatment with urea solution and the adsorption of Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) from aqueous solutions at different pH values have been studied. Types of active sorption sites, their surface concentration and change after the bark treatment with urea solution were determined. The results of potentiometric titration were processed by using ProtoFit and FITEQL software programs. The data obtained make it possible to conclude that in the extraction mechanism of heavy metals from water the share of ion exchange decreases and the share of complexation increases. The impact of alkaline and alkaline earth metals in the range of their concentrations up to 3000 mg/dm3 on Cu(II) extraction from model aqueous solutions was also investigated.