Amoxicillin Adsorption from Aqueous Solution by Cu(II) Modified Lemon Peel Based Activated Carbon: Mass Transfer Simulation, Surface Area Prediction and F-test on Isotherm and Kinetic Models

This study addresses concerns about amoxicillin (AMOX) in wastewater by enhancing its removal using Cu saltmodified lemon peel -based activated carbon (Cu-LPAC). The F -test is employed to assess variances between linear and non-linear methods for isotherm and kinetic models. The Polymath mass transfer (PMT) model is used to simulate kinetic data. AMOX adsorption onto Cu-LPAC increased by 38.93%, in comparison with pristine LPAC. The Cu-LPAC exhibiting BET surface area, pore volume, and pore diameter of 1018.52 m2/g, 0.5377 cm3/ g, and 2.78 nm. The non-linear Langmuir and non-linear pseudo -second order (PSO) models fit the adsorption process. The Langmuir monolayer adsorption capacity (Qm) was 344.84 mg/g (linear) and 355.67 mg/g (nonlinear). The F -test showed significance differences for Freundlich and PSO, while PMT model simulation accurately predicted the mesopores surface area to be 787.63 m2/g, yielding a small error of 4.31%. Cu-LPAC's AMOX adsorption was enhanced by ion dipole, hydrogen, and dipole -dipole bonds.