LAUSR

Elevating food requirements exerting pressure on agricultural sector has been causing ecological contamination since many decades. Contamination of pedospheric compartment due to herbicide utilization is a significant issue challenging the environmental integrity due to an increasing use. Nine agriculturally significant soils were selected for rimsulfuron treatment in an adsorptive assay and were remediated with peanut shells (Arachis hypogaea)-derived activated charcoal. Adsorption was done via standard batch equilibrium protocol and analyzed via linear and Freundlich model. Soil sample rich in organic matter and clay expressed highest linear adsorption coefficient Kd of 41 µg mL−1. Rimsulfuron was adsorbed in the selected soils via physical bonds revealed from negative values for Gibbs free energy (ΔG) through exothermic reactions. The validity of results was tested via statistical analysis for dependence of rimsulfuron adsorption with soil physicochemical parameters. Negative correlation was shown between soil pH and Kd(ads) (R2 = − 0.88 and p = 0.001) and positive correlation with organic matter (R2 = 0.84 and p = 0.03). Furthermore, the statistical value of the current results is reflected in the form of lower p values for analysis of variance (ANOVA). Adsorbed rimsulfuron was remediated via peanut shells (Arachis hypogaea)-driven activated carbon in a cost-effective method through acid activation. Commendable removal percentages show the great potential of peanut shells activated carbon for effective, cheap and green mode for protection of soils from pesticide-driven contamination. Current research can also be extended for the further exploration of optimized removal modes.