This paper presents studies on the effect and capacity of lightweight expanded clay aggregates (LECA) as adsorbents for cleaning up crude oil from aquatic environment. These studies incorporate the effect of adsorbent particle size, surface modification, API (American Petroleum Institute) degree, and the contact time. Sorbent characterization has been determined using SEM, XRD, XRF, and BET. Optimum sorption was reached during the first 10 min, followed by a steady state of crude oil sorption. Furthermore, results indicated that fine LECA particles have higher adsorption efficiency due to the increase of specific surface area. Decreasing the API degree had a significant influence on the rise of the adsorption rate. The results indicated that the LECA performs better in heavier oil than lighter oil. Overall, LECA was found to be a proper adsorbent for cleanup oil spill from an aquatic environment, which could also be collected from the water surface rapidly.

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