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Graphical abstract AbstractThe role of waste materials in producing activated carbon (AC) used in adsorption has been identified as an alternative to substitute commercial expensive wooden starting materials. The present study has chosen honeydew peel as an alternative starting material in activated carbon production because of it's low cost, availabality and incurs minimal cost for waste management. The production involved chemical impregnation using 20% diluted phosphoric acid (H3PO4) prior to activation. To optimize the activation method, the effect of different activation temperatures (470°C -550°C) on the physicochemical properties of the AC was studied. The results showed that the AC carbonized at 490°C possessed 942 mg/g iodine number, 997 m2/g surface area SBET and 0.56 ml/g total pore volume. FESEM images showed a high pore development as the activation temperature increased. FTIR indicated the presence of -OH, C=O bond in carboxylic acids, ketones, aldehydes, lactones and ester functional groups on the AC. The experimental results presented the potential use of honeydew peel as a precursor material in the preparation of inexpensive adsorbent for wastewater remediation.