Assessment of Kaolin Canister Filters for Heavy Metal Removal from Contaminated Bore-Hole Water in Gold Mining Communities in Tarkwa-Nsuaem in the Western Region of Ghana

The study ascertains the efficiency of kaolin canister filters for removing heavy metals from contaminated bore- hole water in ten gold mining communities the in Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal, in the western region of Ghana. Contamination of groundwater is a grave environmental setback. This research looked at how effective kaolin canister filter worked as an adsorbent to remove heavy metals from water. The findings showed the maximum adsorption capacities of 93.5, 87.5, and 67.5% for lead, cadmium and arsenic respectively, and that kaolin canister filter had a high adsorption capacity for these metals. The adsorption data well-fitted to the linear Langmuir isotherm model indicating monolayer adsorption, with maximum monolayer coverage (qmax) of the kaolin canister filter, the Langmuir constant (KL), the Langmuir separation factor (RL) and R2 values to be 5933.56 mg/g, 0.0193 1/mg, (35.3E-03 – 771.0E-03) and (0.9945-0.9973) respectively. Correlation coefficient (R 2 ≈ 1) implies favorable adsorption. Free energy constant, KL < 1 and the Langmuir separation factor (RL < 1) indicates it is linear, physical adsorption, reversible and that the kaolin canister filters could be an excellent adsorbent for heavy metals removal (Jang, et al., 2010). The study demonstrated the potential of kaolin canister filter as a low-cost and sustainable adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals from water.