In this study, a naturally occurring zeolitic tuff located in Jordan was investigated as a potential adsorbent for phosphate removal from aqueous solution. Adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics of phosphate adsorption under different temperatures were studied. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model adequately fitted the collected experimental data under different initial ion concentrations. The Langmuir model is found to be successfully fitting the experimental data. Thermodynamic parameters such as Gibbs's free energy change, standard enthalpy change, and entropy change were evaluated and the results indicated that the sorption process is spontaneous, exothermic with small degree of randomness during the sorption process.

Za'atari camp is the largest refugee camp in Jordan. It was first established in 2012 to host Syrian refugees. Currently the camp hosts more than 81,000 refugees, with no proper sanitary system which might pose a major threat to surface resources in the area. An investigation was done at Za'atari refugees' camp to find the impact of refugees settling on surface and groundwater quality. Surface water quality of surface runoff generated from thirty rain fall events were collected during the winter season of 2013/2014 from the major Wadi that passes through the camp and small ponds within the camp after the rainfall event. The collected samples were analyzed for acidity (pH), the electrical connectivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), nutrients (− 3 NO and − 3 4 PO) and selected heavy metals (Mn, Cd, Zn, Pb and Ni) in addition to biological oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and intestinal worms (Total Coliform, E. cali). The results showed that there are significant variations in the EC as well as with TDS between the sites due to fluctuating amounts of water used for different activities within the camp as it was highest in the center of the camp where most of the refugees settle decreasing away from the center. The pH values were within the specifications of the World Health Organization and the Jordanian Standards. For nutrients, nitrate concentration was low with high phosphate ions which are most probably from detergents origin.

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The groundwater hydrochemical characteristics of theAzraq Basin were investigated and evaluated statistically. The presence of an underground saline water body in the Qa' Al-Azraq area has made this specific part of the basin. 38 samples from 38 GW wells were collected to understand the GW hydrochemistry of the Azraq unconfined aquifer that is mainly composed of marl, evaporites, limestone and clay formations. The PCA analysis indicates that Na, Mg, Cl, Ca, and K contribute the variance in the chemical composition of the GW samples. Piper, Durov and Wilcox diagrams indicated that the water types are mainly earth alkaline with prevailing SO4 and Cl, and alkaline water with prevailing SO4 and Cl. The main processes in the basin are dissolution or mixing and reverse ion exchange in which Na and Cl are prevailing. The GW is mainly oversaturated concerning aragonite, calcite and dolomite as indicated by the excess input of Mg and Ca ions from the rock-water interactions, while anhydrite (CaSO4), halite (NaCl), and gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) are generally undersaturated. The effect of the agricultural activities in the study area is reflected by the positive correlation between NO3 and PC2. Wilcox diagram indicates that the samples are in the medium to very high salinity slots with the majority in the high salinity slot and in the low and medium alkali hazard zone, while few samples show high to very high alkali hazards. The simulated salinity for the next 30 years shows alarming danger and requires immediate attention as the Qa' area is expected to become saline with TDS values of 2500 to 4600 mg/l, unsuitable to use for domestic and/or agricultural purposes.

Oil shale samples from Sultani oil shale mine, south of Jordan, were pyrolyzed by a partial combustion to generate shale oil. The produced water was sent for analysis. The different samples were analyzed for carbon content, and results showed that the TOC was 2010 mg per liter of retorted water. Phenol and arsenic contents were measured and found to be 64 mg and 0.18 mg per liter respectively. Phosphate and sulfate were also determined and found to be 35.7 and 5022 mg per liter. On the other hand, ammonium was also found to be 2831 mg per liter. Several elements were traced and reported in the present work, in which arsenic, chrome and nickel are the most important, and the retorted water was found to contain 0.18, 0.7 and 0.5 mg per liter.