Leachate characteristics and composition of cyanide-bearing wastes from manufactured gas plants

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1994 · Environmental Science and Technology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00050a014· OSTI ID:7047024

Theis, T L; Young, T C; Huang, M; Knutsen, K C ^[1]

---

1. Clarkson Univ., Potsdam, NY (United States)

Past activities associated with the manufacture of gas from hydrocarbon feedstocks resulted in the generation of substantial quantities of cyanide-bearing wastes produced as a result of product gas cleanup for the removal of hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen cyanide. Large quantities of these wastes have been found at several manufactured gas plant sites. It was the purpose of this study to address questions relating to the availability of cyanide to the environment and to determine the chemical forms of cyanide in the waste. This information is necessary in order to assess the toxicity and possible methods of treatment and disposal of the material. Results using two samples of purifier waste indicate that cyanide exists entirely in complex forms, iron complexes being the dominant species with smaller quantities of Cu- and Ni-CN complexes. Other contaminants of concern include sulfur species (SO[sub 4][sup 2[minus]], S[sub 2]O[sub 3][sup 2[minus]], SCN[sup [minus]]), ammonia, and trace metals. Studies for both samples indicate that major cations and anions (NH[sub 4][sup +], Ca[sup 2+], Na[sup +], K[sup +], SO[sub 4][sup 2[minus]], Cl[sup [minus]], NO[sub 3][sup [minus]]) are readily leached from the material; however, cyanide species are the least soluble at low pH, the rate of release increasing substantially as the pH rises above neutrality. These results have implications for the toxicity and the treatment and disposal methodologies for these wastes. 14 refs., 7 figs., 3 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 7047024
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology; (United States), Vol. 28:1; ISSN 0013-936X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CHEMICAL WASTES
GROUND DISPOSAL
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CYANIDES
LEACHING
SOLUBILITY
TOXICITY
HIGH BTU GAS
PURIFICATION
HYDROCYANIC ACID
REMOVAL
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
LEACHATES
SNG PLANTS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
AMMONIA
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
COPPER COMPLEXES
HYDROCARBONS
IRON COMPLEXES
METALS
NICKEL COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TRACE AMOUNTS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE PROCESSING
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COMPLEXES
DISPERSIONS
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INORGANIC ACIDS
KINETICS
MANAGEMENT
MIXTURES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NONRADIOACTIVE WASTES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
REACTION KINETICS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLUTIONS
SULFIDES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPLEXES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
WASTES
100800* - Synthetic Fuels- Waste Management- (1990-)
540220 - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540320 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)