Bamboo sawdust-derived high surface area activated carbon for remarkable removal of paracetamol from aqueous solution: sorption kinetics, isotherm, thermodynamics, and regeneration studies

Abstract Due to its widespread consumption, paracetamol (PCT) has emerged as one of the leading contaminants that pollute water. Herein, a PCT removal 99.6% was achieved using chemically activated carbon (CAC), derived from bamboo sawdust KOH/FeCl3 an activating agent, at optimal conditions (20 mg/L), CAC (0.5 g/L), contact time (90 min), and pH (8). Kinetic study revealed adsorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 = 0.99), indicating chemical dominated mechanism. On other hand, isotherm experimental data were best described by Langmuir 0.98) Freundlich 0.96) models. had maximum monolayer capacity 188.67 mg/g concentration 120 mg/L. Moreover, Redlich–Peterson gave fit 0.99) data, confirming onto heterogeneous surface. Thermodynamically, exothermic, spontaneous, favorable. The reusability depicted can be successfully reused for five consecutive adsorption–desorption cycles. Furthermore, application environmental samples showed interesting results. overall indicated could serve promising adsorbent eliminating