Cost effective process for detoxification of cyanide-containing effluents

US5178775A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Degussa AG · DE

Inventors

• M. Quamrul Ahsan · Waldwick, US
• Stephen Gos · Miltenberg, DE
• Helmut Knorre · Seligenstadt, DE
• Roy Norcross · Norwalk, US
• Friedrich W. Merz · Nierstein, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 17, 1990
• Grant date: Jan 12, 1993
• Expiry date: Dec 17, 2010

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S210/904
• WIPO field: Environmental technology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

This invention pertains to a method of treating cyanide contained in wastewater with particularly high levels of solids in the stream. The process involves either simultaneous or step-wise dosage of hydrogen peroxide in the form of an aqueous solution of a concentration between 35% to 90% by weight, preferably at least 50% by weight, and SO.sub.2 either in the form of gaseous SO.sub.2 or solution of sodium and/or potassium sulfite or metabisulfite resulting in the conversion of cyanide ions to non-toxic cyanate ions.