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

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 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]

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

Related Subjects

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