SANDE MERCY2026-08-272026-08-272026-08-27https://bdears.busitema.ac.ug/handle/123456789/9171ABSTRACT The increasing occurrence of pharmaceutical pollutants in aquatic environments has become a global concern due their persistence and potential effects on human health and aquatic organisms. Ibuprofen is a widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic and analgesic drug with occurrence in the aquatic systems of 47 countries. The presence of ibuprofen in aquatic systems poses a threat to the health of both human and aquatic organisms. The current treatment methods for removing ibuprofen from wastewater are often expensive and environmentally friendly leading to a pressing need for alternative solutions. Previous and existing studies have primarily focused on conventional water treatment methodslike activated carbon derived from traditional sources without adequately investigating the potential of bio waste materials such as pineapple peels rendering them ineffective in removing ibuprofen, highlighting the need for alternative technologies. Therefore; this study developed pineapple peels activated carbon using H3PO4 and carbonization in a furnace of 500-700°C as a threedimensional adsorbent for aqueous ibuprofen remediation. Pineapple peel’s activated carbon was characterized using iodine method to determine the surface area, pore volume and size distribution of the activated carbon, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to identify the functional groups present on the surface of the activated carbon using a PerkinElmer Spectrum 100 spectrometer. Batch adsorption studies were carried out from pH 2 to 10, Adsorbent dosages from 1g/L to 5g/L, contact time from 10 to 60 minutes. Maximum adsorption occurred at pH 4 at an ibuprofen concentration 2mg/L, adsorbent dosage of 1g/L. Adsorption followed second order kinetics well (R2=0.999). The adsorption isotherms almost remained constant with an increase in initial concentration of ibuprofen shown by Langmuir adsorption capacity, qe=19.421mg/g. Pineapple peelings provided an efficient ibuprofen adsorption capacity (with column parameters; pH=4.0, adsorbent dosage=5g/ L.). Adsorption of ibuprofen onto activated carbon from pineapple peels involves H-bonding, pore filling with complexation and hydrophobic π-π donor acceptor attractions likely participating. Which allows efficient removal of ibuprofen from water. Affordable costs of pineapples together with excellent adsorption capacity makes pineapple peels activated carbon an efficient low-cost adsorbent for ibuprofen removal. Thus, this study describes a sustainable pineapple waste management strategy as well as treatment of ibuprofencontaminatedwater.en-USThesis