Effect of chemical pretreatment on the biodegradation of cyanides

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:477270

Aronstein, B N; Paterek, J R; Rice, L E; Srivastava, V J ^[1]

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1. Inst. of Gas Technology, Des Plaines, IL (United States)

The application of Fenton`s reagent (H{sub 2}O{sub 2}; Fe{sup 2+}) as a chemical pretreatment for acceleration of biological degradation of cyanides in soil-containing systems has been studied. In slurries of topsoil freshly amended with radiolabeled free cyanide (K{sup 14}CN) at pH 7.2, about 100% of the compound was removed from the system by the combination of chemical oxidation and biodegradation. In slurry of manufactured gas plant (MGP) soil, the extent of combined chemical-biological treatment was 50%. At the same time, approximately 15% of the cyanide was lost from the system by protonation and evolution of formed HCN. In slurries of both topsoil and MGP soil amended with radiolabeled K{sub 4}[Fe(CN){sub 6}], less than 20% was degraded. In soils previously equilibrated with free and complex cyanide, the highest extent of degradation resulted from chemical-biological treatment did not exceed 15%. To avoid massive evolution of HCN, the cyanide-amended topsoil was maintained at a pH of 10.0. At this pH, nearly 35% of the cyanides were removed from the system by combined chemical-biological treatment.

• OSTI ID: 477270
• Report Number(s): CONF-950483--; ISBN 1-57477-011-X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
BIODEGRADATION
COAL GASIFICATION PLANTS
CYANIDES
OPTIMIZATION
REAGENTS
REMEDIAL ACTION
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
SOILS