The adsorption of ibuprofen was optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) through a three level Box- Behnken design (BBD). The microwave assisted activated carbon derived from scrap wood of Acacia Auriculiformis was used as an adsorbent for the present study. The optimization through RSM involves the approximation of several independent dependent variables. In the present scenario solution pH, initial adsorbate concentration, adsorbent dose, contact time and reaction temperature were considered as the input variables whereas, the ibuprofen adsorption capacity was chosen as the response variable. The quadratic model was suggested to predict the ibuprofen removal efficiency. From the analysis of variance (ANOVA) it was found that solution pH, adsorbent dose, contact time and reaction temperature had significant effects on ibuprofen adsorption. With help of numerical optimization technique the adsorption process was optimized and a good desirability value (1.0) was also obtained. The experimental and model predicted values of the ibuprofen adsorption were compared and both the values were found to be in reasonable agreement with each other.
