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Article Information:
Natural Cyanide Attenuation in a Tailings Dam in South-Western Ghana
S.A. Ndur, J.M. Doe and E.K. Asiam
Corresponding Author: S.A. Ndur
Submitted: July 18, 2013
Accepted: August 02, 2013
Published: May 20, 2015 |
Abstract:
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The aim of this study was to investigate the viability of light and aeration (oxygen) in cyanide attenuation of gold tailings material in a tropical environment. It was established that under aeration conditions free cyanide (CNF) concentration reduced from 200 mg/dm3 to below 0.03 mg/dm3 in 60 h weak acid dissociable cyanide (WADCN) concentration reduced from 200 mg/dm3 to 6 mg/dm3 after 60 h. Under non-aeration conditions CNF concentrations reduced from 200 mg/dm3 to 60 mg/dm3 within 108 h, the pH reduced from 10.80 to 9.41. WADCN concentration decreased from 200 mg/dm3 to 73 mg/dm3 within 48 h. It then increased to 150 mg/dm3 after 60 h and then gradually decreased to 100 mg/dm3 after 144 h. It was inferred that volatilisation of HCN was the dominant mechanism accounting for degradation of CNF Degradation of complex cyanide species and this was enhanced by sunlight and aeration. It was concluded that natural cyanide attenuation is possible but the rate of degradation particularly for WADCN is not as fast as free cyanide. Hence it is not a suitable process for cyanide degradation in tropical environment.
Key words: Aeration, attenuation, cyanide, natural, sunlight, tailings dam,
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Cite this Reference:
S.A. Ndur, J.M. Doe and E.K. Asiam, . Natural Cyanide Attenuation in a Tailings Dam in South-Western Ghana. Research Journal of Environmental and Earth Sciences, (2): 24-28.
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ISSN (Online): 2041-0492
ISSN (Print): 2041-0484 |
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