Egyptian oil shale was investigated as a source of adsorbent for removal of zinc from aqueous solutions. Egyptian oil shale (OS) was used as an adsorbent without any treatment, then thermally activated in absence of air (Carbo-OS), and separately burned to produce ash (OS-ash). Egyptian oil shale was also chemically activated by zinc chloride (ZnCl₂-OS) respectively. The present study aims at investigating the removal of Zn²⁺ ions from an aqueous solution via adsorption and thermal and chemical activation of locally sourced oil shale. Also, the effect of different operation parameters, like heavy metal and sorbent concentration as well as adsorbent’s uptake time of heavy metals is studied. It was found that activated oil shale successfully removed high amount of Zn from an aqueous solution. As the adsorbent concentration was increased keeping zinc concentration constant, greater metal removal from the solution was observed. And, as the zinc concentration was increased keeping sorbent concentration constant, higher metal loading per unit weight of the sorbent was achieved. The Langmuir isotherm model fit the experimental data of Zn²⁺ ions. The results indicated that oil shale could be used to adsorb Zn²⁺ ions and that thermally activated oil shale resulted in 99% removal for Zn²⁺.

In this study, the efficiency of spent oil shale was assessed to remove the methyl red (MR) from aqueous solution under various chemical and physical parameters. The adsorption kinetics was assessed using the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. The results indicated that increase in the level of adsorbent led to an increase in amount of dye removed from the solution. Most of the dye was adsorbed within 90 min. MR adsorption followed pseudo-first-order model. Material extracted oil shale was characterized by several methods such as electronic scanning microscopy (ESM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The treated oil shale showed high adsorption potential against MR in polluted wastewater.

The hydrazide derivative of poly methylacrylate (PMA) was synthesized and used for removal of cupric ions (Cu2+) as an adsorbent from industrial effluent. Dimethylsulfoxide was used to chemically activate the synthesized PMA. Batch adsorption experiments were performed to examine the effects of initial concentration of Cu2+ ion, adsorbent dosage, temperature, and stirring rate on the adsorption of Cu2+ from the wastewater. It was found via isotherm studies that the Langmuir isotherm formulation best described the process of adsorption. Kinetic studies showed that the adsorption process had a pseudo-first-order reaction model. Chemically activated PMA is a cost-effective and efficient alternative to remove metal ions from effluent streams.

The present study aims to removal of copper ions (Cu2+) as a heavy metal ion from aqueous solution by a high inorganic molecular weight compound. This compound is modified clay (activated bentonite) which is used in oil well drilling, and obtained from local company. The experimental results showed that it is an adsorption reaction that follows Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum removal of copper ions was obtained at low copper ion initial concentration, high adsorbent dosage, low temperature, and high agitation speed. It is clear from the results obtained that the compound within the experimental range investigated cannot be considered as a method for the removal of waste stream within the experimental range investigated as the residual concentration is higher than the limits which are allowed by the environmental limits which are allowed by the low which is 5 ppm. These results may be due to the high initial copper concentration used in this work and low dosage of the compound.