A hybrid porous adsorbent was produced by mixing black liquor lignin (BL) with basic oxygen furnace steelmaking slag (SS) followed by carbonization at 860 degrees C for removal of trace sulfur dioxide (SO2) from air. The effects of BL percent-age, carbonization temperature, carbonization duration and the binary combined effect of each individual process parameter on the removal of SO2 have been statistically analyzed. The optimal preparation conditions were 48% = BL/(BL + SS), carbonized at 860 degrees C for 50 minutes (labeled BL-SS-48-860-50). The crystallite CaO and MgO phases remained in the hybrid matrix. A carbonization temperature over 800 degrees C facilitated gasification reaction between the carbon matrix and the CO2 emitted from, the decomposition of calcium and magnesium carbonate, which led to the pore formation and enlargement in the carbon, matrix. Tire prepared hybrid, adsorbent, showed good SO2 removal performance. The kinetic model demonstrated satisfying results in predicting SO2 adsorption kinetics with good prediction with in a relative large range of SO2 inlet concentration. The mass transfer coefficient k = 537 (s(-1)) was obtained by fitting the model to the experimental breakthrough curve. (C) 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers