Preparation of activated carbon by microwave heating of langsat (Lansium domesticum) empty fruit bunch waste

► Highlight the renewable use of langsat (Lansium domesticum) empty fruit bunch. ► Evaluate the effects of activation agents and operational parameters. ► Short activation time of 6 min and low chemical impregnation ratio of 1.25. ► High BET and Langmuir surface area of 1293 and 1942 m2/g, respectively. ► Monolayer adsorption capacity of 402.06 mg/g for methylene blue and carbon yield of 81.31%.