Funct. Mater. 2026; 33 (2): 298-308.

An activated carbon model was created using Hammam Al-Alil asphalt in Iraq as a petroleum-based feedstock. An aliphatic resin represented by (C5) was applied to the asphalt in different quantities and with the presence of sulfur. The optimum conditions for the reaction of the components were determined using different temperatures, times and sulfur ratios. The study showed that the optimum conditions for the reaction of the components were a temperature of 225°C, a sulfur content of 2% and a reaction time of three hours, which was determined by calculating the asphalting coefficient. The best model was selected and treated through different distillation processes, both conventional and synchronous, and then the waste from the distillation process was treated with potassium hydroxide at a ratio of (2.5:1) (raw material: potassium hydroxide) at a temperature of (500∓50 °C) for three hours. After that, the resulting carbon nanomaterial was purified from impurities and alkali in several ways. The resulting carbon material was tested for its effectiveness by measuring its ability to adsorb iodine from its aqueous solution, i.e., using the so-called iodine number, which is a quick indicator of the internal surface area. In the course of the study devoted to the investigation of factors influencing the adsorption efficiency, the process of extracting amaranth dye from its aqueous solution was examined and the optimal conditions for the adsorption process were determined.