Adsorption of methylene blue (MB) was investigated using physically prepared Durio Zibethinus Murr shell activated carbon (DZMAC). Response surface methodology (RSM) statistical technique was used to optimise the preparation conditions: activation power, activation time, and CO2 flow, with the percentage of MB dye removal and DZMAC yield as the targeted responses. Based on the central composite design (CCD), two empirical models were developed and validated by applying ANOVA analysis incorporating interaction effects of three variables using RSM to the two responses. The optimum conditions for preparing DZMAC for adsorption of MB dye were found as follows: activation power of 666-Watt, activation time of 2.83 minutes, and CO2 flow of 100 cm3, which resulted in 70% of MB dye removal and 25.21% of DZMAC yield. Experimental results obtained agreed satisfactorily well with the model predictions.
