A series of anionic copolymeric surfactants based on n-dodecylacrylate ester (M-1) as hydrophobe, and oxypropylated acrylate ester (MA(4,6)) as hydrophiles, were prepared by copolymerization of n-dodecylacrylate (M-1) and oxypropylated acrylate ester (MA(4,6)) with molar ratio's (0.3:0.7, 0.4:0.6 and 0.5:0.5, respectively) in presence of benzoyl peroxide as initiator followed by sulfation and neutralization to afforded [(PAS(4)), and (PAS(6))](a-c), as anionic copolymeric surfactant in suitable yield. These derivatives were purified and characterized by 1R and H-1 NMR spectral studies. Surface activity, and biodegradability were evaluated. Adsorption of some copolymeric surfactant on salary sand was investigated to assess possibility of treating waste water streams for removal of Pb2+ and Hg2+ toxic minerals. The effect of several factors governing the adsorption such as initial concentration, temperature, pH, have been studied. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.