Corn Cob-Derived Activated Carbon for Chloramphenicol Removal: An Optimization and Mass Transfer Model Study

Mohamad Razif Mohd Ramli (1) Integrated Water Processing Research Group, Water and Environment Centre, Research Institute of Sciences and Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates. 2) School of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Tuanku Sye)
Abdul Wahab Mohammad (1) Integrated Water Processing Research Group, Water and Environment Centre, Research Institute of Sciences and Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates. 4) Chemical and Water Desalination Engineering Program, College o)
Mohd Sobri Takriff (1) Integrated Water Processing Research Group, Water and Environment Centre, Research Institute of Sciences and Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates. 4) Chemical and Water Desalination Engineering Program, College o)
Mohd Azmier Ahmad (School of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang)
Noor Fazliani Shoparwe (Gold, Rare Earth and Material Technopreneurship Centre (GREAT), Faculty of Bioengineering and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Jeli Campus, Jeli 17600)
Ebenezer I. Oluwasola (Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice 44-100)

Emerging Science Journal
Vol. 10 No. 3 (2026): June

This study developed a sustainable activated carbon (AC) from corn cob agricultural waste for efficient chloramphenicol (CP) removal from aqueous solutions and to improve the predictive understanding of the adsorption process. Microwave-assisted physicochemical activation using potassium hydroxide (KOH) was optimized through response surface methodology (RSM), with activation time, microwave radiation power, and impregnation ratio (IR) identified as the key preparation variables. Under the optimal conditions (3.86 min, 616 W, and 2.5 g/g), the resulting AC achieved a yield of 16.6% and a CP adsorption capacity of 20.2 mg/g. The optimized AC exhibited a high BET surface area (832.68 m²/g), a mesopore-dominated pore structure (mesoporous surface area of 623.45 m²/g), a pore volume of 0.09067 cm³/g, and an average pore diameter of 1.93 nm, leading to a maximum experimental adsorption capacity of 20.68 mg/g at 30 °C. In addition, a mass transfer (MT) model was successfully applied to predict an equilibrium adsorption capacity of 21.48 mg/g with a low average error of 3.29% and R² ≥ 0.90. By integrating process optimization with mass transfer modeling, this study improves the understanding of CP adsorption and provides a practical framework for designing efficient, waste-derived adsorbents for antibiotic-contaminated water treatment.