Studies were conducted to evaluate the oil sorption capacities of walnut shell media. Sorption capacity is the weight of oil picked up by unit weight of a sorbent. Initial oil pick-up by walnut shell media on pure oil and oil on aqueous medium was evaluated. Batch kinetic studies were conducted to evaluate the equilibrium time required by walnut shell media for sorbing oil. For pure oil medium, sorption capacities of 0.30 g/g, 0.51 g/g and 0.58 g/g were obtained for standard mineral oil, vegetable oil and DoALL Bright-Edge oil, respectively. The results showed sorption capacities of 0.56 g/g, 0.58 g/g and 0.74 g/g for standard mineral oil, vegetable oil and DoALL Bright-Edge oil, respectively, for oil on aqueous medium. It was found that sorbed oil could be recovered from walnut shell media by applying pressure. The Study showed that walnut shell media can be used as a sorbent for oil removal. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.