Ibuprofen (iBu) is one of the most prescribed and consumable global non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Consequently it has been ranked as one of the most noticed pharmaceuticals in the environment, having distressing concentrations up to microgram per litre in water. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method was performed to analyze acidic pharmaceutical iBu quantification and were enriched with liquid-liquid extraction followed by derivatisation with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide. The fundamental perspective of ibuprofen adsorption was evaluated by isotherm, thermodynamic and kinetic details. Equilibrium profile was discussed by two-parameter and three-parameter isotherm models. The best fitting model was chosen according to the statistical criteria. The experimental results substantiated the correctness of the Radke-Prausnitz model and reinforced the conclusion of correlated thermodynamic parameters for iBu binding. Adsorption of iBu was increased with an increase in temperature. Reaction pathways to attain equilibrium were in good correlation with pseudo second order rate kinetics. The excellent mesoporosity and high surface area of microwave-assisted developed adsorbent was one of the key contributors for iBu uptake apart from coulombic attraction between adsorbate-adsorbent system at acidic pH value. Adsorption mechanism was plausibly explained by spectroscopic techniques. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.