This work aims to evaluate the use of a concentration coal tailing (RJ) as a source of humic substances, particularly humic acid (HA). To achieve the goal the research was divided into three steps: obtaining, characterization and application of HA.In the first step three different methods of functionalization of the sample were tested prior to the HA extraction procedure: chemical process (PQ), electrolysis (ELE) and the using of an autoclave (PRESS). It was observed that in terms of mass recovery and within established operating conditions, the method of chemical process (PQ) result was the most efficient, with 20.2 percent and 3.8 percent of AH to AF-Like, respectively.In the second step, it was studied the physical and chemical properties of the humic acids produced: phenolic acidity, total acidity, the acidity of carboxyl groups, pH, CTC and gray, spectroscopy (FTIR, 13C NMR and ICP - OES), elemental analysis, thermal analysis (TGA) and structural analysis (SEM - EDS). There were some similarities with the AH s extracted from the soil with the difference being the degree of aromaticity which is very high (around 60 percent compared to 15 percent of the soil). Moreover, the relevant features were the CTC, which ranged 22 - 44 Cmolckg to the power of -1. This value is considered moderately high in relation to the approximate mean value of 25 Cmolckg to the power of -1 CTC , originated from Brazilian soil. The results obtained from FTIR spectroscopy and 13C NMR indicated that functionalization of the coal tailing (RJ), by any of the methods is relatively low (5.0 - 9.7 percent C-carboxylic acid) compared to AH from soil. Also showed similar structural and physical characteristics, as observed by scanning electron microscopy. In the third stage, a preliminary study on the retention capacity of the lead contained in synthetic (1000 ppm) solution by the AH obtained by the chemical processes method was performed. It was found an efficiency of 98 percent adsorption of the element when using a ratio of 1:1 (AH 1g : 1g Pb) and flow rate of 0.06 ml/min.