<p>This study employed iron-impregnated Kenyan clinoptilolite zeolite for the adsorptive elimination of chloramphenicol, an antibiotic and emerging water contaminant, from aqueous solution. The iron-impregnated zeolite achieved 89% removal compared to 32% achieved by the un-impregnated zeolite. The iron-impregnated zeolite recorded a higher equilibrium adsorption capacity of 22.49 mg/g compared to 8.09 mg/g for the un-impregnated. Impregnating zeolite with iron enhance its adsorption capacity by generating additional active sites through the introduction of iron species and by shifting the point of zero charge toward a neutral pH, thus broadening the pH range conducive for electrostatic attraction. Kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics of the adsorptive elimination of chloramphenicol were investigated. The adsorptive removal of chloramphenicol by the iron-impregnated zeolite fitted best to the <i>pseudo</i>-first order kinetic model. It was also established that the adsorption rate is not solely controlled by Intra-particle diffusion. The Freundlich isothermal model fitted the experimental data better while a Q_max of 39.34 mg/g was attained by ImZe. The percent removal of chloramphenicol by the iron-impregnated zeolite decreased as the reaction temperature was varied from 25 to 40&#xa0;°C. The adsorption process attained a ∆H of − 55 kJ/mol and a ∆S of − 148 J/mol/K. Adsorption of chloramphenicol onto the adsorbent was practically feasible, exothermic and spontaneous as shown by the negative values of ∆H and ∆G. Furthermore, the adsorption was characterized by increased orderliness at the sorbent/bulk solution interface as indicated by negative ∆S value. The adsorption mechanism was predominantly characterized by electrostatic attraction. This work is novel because it demonstrates the potential of iron-impregnated Kenyan clinoptilolite zeolite in removal of chloramphenicol from water, which will impact to improve water purification technologies.</p>