Adsorption of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole using residual carbon from coal gasification slag: Behavior, mechanism and cost-benefit analysis

•Gravity separation was used to mass-produce GC.•GC preparation would promote efficient and high-value utilization of coal gasification slag.•Trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole were efficiently adsorbed by GC.•Molecular dynamics simulations explained the competitive adsorption of two pollutants.•Estimated cost of producing the adsorbent revealed the commercial viability.