Sorption of heavy oil onto Jiaozhou Bay sediment

► The kinetic and equilibrium sorption behavior of heavy oil onto sediment is reported. ► The process was shown to follow a pseudo-second-order kinetic rate model. ► Increasing initial heavy oil concentration in solution decreased the sorption rate. ► The isotherm followed Freundlich model and the process was spontaneous and exothermic. ► Higher concentrations of NaCl, lower pH and lower temperatures favored the sorption.