JSC “Polymetal Engineering”, Saint Petersburg, Russia:

N. V. Vorobev-Desyatovskiy, Head of Hydrometallurgy Department, e-mail: vdesjatovsky@polymetal.spb.ru

SRK Consulting, Moscow, Russia:
D. V. Ermakov, Senior Concentration Engineer

The article describes non-oxidation methods of detoxication of cyanide solutions and slurries, based on binding of cyanide ions into insoluble or relatively low-toxic strong compounds. Such technologies include precipitation of СN^– anion in the form of low solubility compounds, such as ferric ferrocyanide/Turnbull’s blue, Fe₄[Fe(CN)₆]₃, FeNa[Fe(CN)₆], or binding of this anion with thyocyanate anion, interacting with polysulfide compounds (DTOX technology). Both considered methods do not provide the results, corresponding to existing Russian environmental regulations. Using ion-exchange resin (anion resin), cyanide solution detoxication method helps to reduce the environmental impact, but can not solve all issues. Its industrial application requires significant dilution of waste solutions with fresh water, following their treatment by ion-exchange resin, which is not always possible. The article also describes the latest developments in oxidation of cyanide ions by atmospheric oxygen on activated carbon as catalyst. Nowadays, this method is not commercially used, but it can become a prospective development in future.

1. Ermakov D. V., Vorobev-Desyatovskiy N. V. Osnovnye problemy obezvrezhivaniya tsianidsoderzhashchikh rastvorov i pulp zolotodobyvayushchey promyshlennosti v Rossii. Chast 2. Metody okislitelnoy detoksikatsii (Main problems of decontamination of cyanide-containing solutions and slurries of Russian gold-mining industry. Part 2. Oxidation detoxication methods). Tsvetnye Metally = Non-ferrous metals. 2014. No. 7. pp. 34–40.
2. Adams M. D. The removal of cyanide from aqueous solution by the use of ferrous sulphate. Journal of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. 1992. Vol. 92, No. 1. pp. 17–25.
3. Loos-Neskovic C., Fedoroff M., Garnier E. Preparation, composition and structure of some nickel and zink ferrocyanides: experimental results. Talanta. 1989. Vol. 36, No. 7. pp. 749–759.
4. Ermakov D. V., Vorobev-Desyatovskiy N. V. Osnovnye problemy obezvrezhivaniya tsianidsoderzhashchikh rastvorov i pulp zolotodobyvayushchey promyshlennosti v Rossii. Chast 1. Obshchie podkhody k voprosam obezvrezhivaniya tsianidnykh stokov v Rossii i v drugikh stranakh (Main problems of decontamination of cyanide-containing solutions and slurries of Russian gold-mining industry. Part 1. Common approaches to the issues of decontamination of cyanide wastes in Russia and abroad). Tsvetnye Metally = Non-ferrous metals. 2014. No. 6. pp. 42–47.
5. Kuyucak N., Akcil A. Cyanide and removal options from effluents in gold mining and metallurgical processes. Minerals Engineering. 2013. Vol. 50/51. pp. 13–29.
6. Takaoka P. T., Ganezarczyk J. J. Feasibility of Polysulfide Detoxification of Concentrated Cyanide Wast-Water. Water Quality Research Journal of Canada. 1985. Vol. 20, No. 1. pp. 118–127.
7. Madder T. I., Botz M. M., Smith A. The Chemistry and Treatment of Cyanidation Waste. London : Mining Journal Books Ltd, 2001. 373 p.
8. Lorösch Jü. Process and Environmental Chemistry of Cyanidation. Frankfurt am Main : Degussa AG, 2001. 504 p.
9. Gross J., Scott J. W. Precipitation of gold and silver from cyanide solution on charcoal. US Bureau of Mines Technical Paper. 1927. No. 378. 78 p.
10. Bernardin F. E. Cyanide detoxification using adsorption and catalytic oxidation on granular activated carbon. Journal of the Water Pollution Control Federation. 1973. Vol. 45, No. 2. pp. 221–231.
11. Vorobev-Desyatovskiy N. V., Ibragimova R. I., Gordeev S. K., Nikolaev B. P. Khimicheskie protsessy na poverkhnosti aktiviro vannogo uglya: novyy primer fiksatsii azota (Chemical processes on the surface of activated carbon: new example of nitrogen fixation). Zhurnal obshchey khimii = Russian Journal of General Chemistry. 2006. Vol. 76, Iss. 6. pp. 988–998.
12. Pichugina D. A., Ibragimova R. I., Emelyanova N. S., Korya gina N. L., Shestakov A. F., Vorobev-Desyatovskiy N. V. O mekhanizme fiksatsii azota iz vozdukha na poverkhnosti aktivirovannogo uglya v vode (About the mechanism of fixation of nitrogen from air on the surface of activated carbon in water). Zhurnal obshchey khimii = Russian Journal of General Chemistry. 2008. Vol. 78, Iss. 4. pp. 574–585.
13. Yazici E. Y., Deveci H., Alp I. Treatment of cyanide effluents by oxidation and adsorption in batch and column studies. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 2009. Vol. 166, No. 2/3. pp. 1362–1366.
14. Manktelow S. A., Paterson J. G., Meech J. A. Removal of copper and cyanide from solution using activated carbon. Environmental Geochemistry and Health. 1984. Vol. 6, No. 1. pp. 5–9.
15. Adams M. D. Removal of cyanide from solution using activated carbon. Minerals Engineering. 1994. Vol. 7, No. 9. pp. 1165–1177.
16. Singh A. Removal of cyanide from aqueous streams. Patent US, No. 2010307977. Published: May 22, 2009.
17. Adams M. Comparison of the MMS CN-D™ cyanide destruction process with Caro’s acid, SMBS/air and hydrogen peroxide options. Proceedings of Gold Sessions at “ALTA 2011”. Perth, Australia, 26–27 May 2011. pp. 169–175.
18. Deveci H., Yazici E. Y., Alp I., Uslu T. Removal of cyanide from aqueous solutions by plain and metal-impregnated granular activated carbons. The International Journal of Mineral Processing. 2006. Vol. 79, No. 3. pp. 198–208.
19. Milenkovic D. D., Rajakovic Lj. V., Stoiljkovic S. The sorption of cyanides from the water onto activated carbon. FACTA Universitatis. Working and Living Environmental protection. 2004. Vol. 2, No. 4. pp. 251–258.
20. Dai X., Breuer P. L. Cyanide and copper recovery by activated carbon. Minerals Engineering. 2009. Vol. 22, No. 5. pp. 469–476.
21. Yeddou A. R., Chergui S., Chergui A., Halet F., Hamza A., Nadjemi B., Ould-Dris A., Belkouch J. Removal of cyanide in aqueous solution by oxidation with hydrogene peroxide in presence of copper-impregnated activated carbon. Minerals Engineering. 2011. Vol. 24, No. 8. pp. 788–793.
22. Xin Y., Shiyng Y., Xueng S., Leilei W., Rui N. Activated Carbon Catalized Peroxide Degradation of Organic Pollutants in Water. Progress in Chemistry. 2010. Vol. 22, No. 10. pp. 2071–2078.
23. Stuber F., Font J., Fortuny A., Bengoa C., Eftaxias A., Fabregat A. Carbon materials and catalytic wet air oxidation of organic pollutants in wastewater. Topics in Catalysis. 2005. Vol. 33, No. 1/4. pp. 3–50.
24. Adams M., Glen S. Pilot-Scale and Continuous Bench testing of the MMS CN-D™ Cyanide Destruction process on an Australian Gold Plant Tailings Effluent. Proceedings of the 50^th Conference of Metallurgists. Editors: D. Deschenes, R. Dimitrakopoulos, J. Bouchard. Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 2–5 October, 2011. pp. 501–510.