Textural properties and surface chemistry of lotus stalk-derived activated carbons prepared using different phosphorus oxyacids: Adsorption of trimethoprim

► AC-H3PO4 has the highest mesopore volume and surface area. ► AC-H4P2O7 has the highest micropore volume and acidic and carboxyl groups. ► Activation with HPO3 made the structure of the carbons as its starting material. ► Activation with H3PO3 made the activated carbon aromatization. ► The sorption affinities of TMP decreases as AC-H4P2O7 > AC-H3PO4 > AC-H3PO3 > AC-HPO3.