Efficient adsorption of acetaminophen from the aqueous phase using low-cost and renewable adsorbent derived from orange peels

Abstract Pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) are frequently detected emerging pollutants in water resources worldwide that provoke pernicious influences on human health and the ecosystem. Developing effective carbonaceous adsorbents from biomass for efficient removal of PhACs has lately drawn significant research attention. Herein, an cost-effective activated carbon was produced via ZnCl 2 -activation, employing orange peels as a precursor (named hereafter OPAC). OPAC well-characterized applied sequestration acetaminophen (N-acetyl-para-aminophenol, APAP), broadly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, media using batch technique. exhibited excellent performance, more than 95.5% APAP removed after 90 min, pH range 2.0–8.0, 1 g/l adsorbent at 25 °C. Additionally, equilibrium kinetic studies outcomes unveiled suitability Langmuir pseudo-second-order models, respectively, to describe adsorption process. Based pH-adsorption dependence properties, presumable mechanism mainly dominated by non-electrostatic interactions, including hydrogen bonding, ?-? pore diffusion. Thermodynamically, process found be spontaneous endothermic. Ultimately, manifested outstanding recyclability, with least 95% initial efficiency being preserved five cycles, making it attractive environmental economic perspectives.