Chemical Science International Journal

This research work was conducted in order to investigate the adsorption of cyanide ions by carbon black developed from Shea Butter Seed Husk (SBSH) an eco-friendly bio-adsorbent. The experiments were carried out in batch reactors with optimum operating parameters at 100 mg/l for the initial cyanide concentration, Temperature 30±2ºC, pH value 10, Adsorbent Dosage (3.0 mg/100 ml) and Contact Time of 120 minutes with maximum percentage cyanide ion removal at 94.56%. The values for the amount of cyanide ions adsorbed at equilibrium (q_e) and amount adsorbed at a given time (q_t) of the experimental results were fitted to the Langmuir, Halsey – Taylor (Freundlich), Henry and Slygin – Frumkin (Temkin) isotherm models with Henry Adsorption Isotherm having R²=0.966, hence, best described the equilibrium model. Adsorption of cyanide ions by SBSH Carbon Black obeyed the Pseudo-Second Order Model rate equation with the values of Coefficient of Determination; R²=0.999. Q_e=3.257(mg/g) and k₂=0.093(g/mg/min). Therefore, it was observed that Pseudo-Second Order Model was the best applicable model which described the bio-sorption of cyanide ions by SBSH Carbon Black, making Pseudo Second order kinetic reaction the rate limiting step for the batch reaction process.