XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 699
concentration of thiocyanate decreased from 77.7 mg/L to
41.1 mg/L at 5 minutes and slightly increased to 60 mg/L
at 120 minutes, corresponding
CONCLUSIONS
The various conclusions that may be drawn from this study
were summarized as follows:
• Batch recirculation experiments showed that SCN–
was oxidized to sulfate (SO42–). The concentration of
SCN– was reduced from 160 mg/L to 3 mg/L, while
120 mg/L of SO42– was produced at 5 V and 1.5
mL/min.
• Higher applied voltages were found to increase SCN–
removal efficiency. At 3 V, 85% of the SCN– was
removed with a total SCN– removal of 2300 mg/m2
at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min for 5 mg/L SCN– solu-
tion during 180 minutes of operation.
• As the influent SCN– concentration increased from
5 mg/L to 10 mg/L, total SCN– removal increased
from 2300 mg/m2 to 3689 mg/m2 due to the
increase in the density of ions between the electrodes.
However, it decreased to 2363 mg/m2 for 20 mg/L
SCN– solution, which could be due to the fouling on
the electrode surface.
• In the treatment of gold mining process water, 47%
of the SCN– was removed in 5 minutes of operation,
but decreased to approximately 25% in 120 minutes
of treatment at 5 V and a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min.
REFERENCES
Adams, M.D. 1990. The chemical behaviour of cyanide in
the extraction of gold. 2. Mechanisms of cyanide loss
in the carbon-in-pulp process. The Southern African
Institute of Mining and Metallurgy 90 (3):67–73.
Adams, M.D. 2001. A methodology for determining the
deportment of cyanide losses in gold plants. Minerals
Engineering 14(4):383–390.
Brillas, E., Sirés, I., and Oturan, M.A. 2009. Electro-Fenton
Process and Related Electrochemical Technologies
Based on Fenton’s Reaction Chemistry. Chemical
Reviews 109(12):6570–6631.
Brillas, E., Martínez-Huitle, C.A. 2015. Decontamination
of wastewaters containing synthetic organic dyes by
electrochemical methods. An updated review. Applied
Catalysis B: Environmental 166–167:603–643.
Cho, Y., Cattrall, R.W., and Kolev, S.D., 2018. A novel
polymer inclusion membrane based method for con-
tinuous clean-up of thiocyanate from gold mine tailings
water. Journal of Hazardous Materials 341:297– 303.
Comninellis, C., Kapalka, A., Malato, S., Parsons, S.A.,
Poulios, I., and Mantzavinos, D. 2008. Advanced oxi-
dation processes for water treatment: advances and
trends for R&D. Journal of Chemical Technology and
Biotechnology 83, 769–776.
Gonen, N. 2003. Leaching of finely disseminated gold ore
with cyanide and thiourea solutions. Hydrometallurgy
69, 169–176.
Gauguin, R. 1951. Oxydation electrochimique de l’ion
thiocyanique. Application aux dosages et ä l’étude des
reactions. Analytica Chimica Acta 5, 200–214.
0
10
20
30
40
50
5 10 15 30 60 90 120
Operation Time (min.)
Figure 9. The removal efficiency (%)of thiocyanate at various time intervals for 120 minutes
SCNRemoval
Efficiency
%
concentration of thiocyanate decreased from 77.7 mg/L to
41.1 mg/L at 5 minutes and slightly increased to 60 mg/L
at 120 minutes, corresponding
CONCLUSIONS
The various conclusions that may be drawn from this study
were summarized as follows:
• Batch recirculation experiments showed that SCN–
was oxidized to sulfate (SO42–). The concentration of
SCN– was reduced from 160 mg/L to 3 mg/L, while
120 mg/L of SO42– was produced at 5 V and 1.5
mL/min.
• Higher applied voltages were found to increase SCN–
removal efficiency. At 3 V, 85% of the SCN– was
removed with a total SCN– removal of 2300 mg/m2
at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min for 5 mg/L SCN– solu-
tion during 180 minutes of operation.
• As the influent SCN– concentration increased from
5 mg/L to 10 mg/L, total SCN– removal increased
from 2300 mg/m2 to 3689 mg/m2 due to the
increase in the density of ions between the electrodes.
However, it decreased to 2363 mg/m2 for 20 mg/L
SCN– solution, which could be due to the fouling on
the electrode surface.
• In the treatment of gold mining process water, 47%
of the SCN– was removed in 5 minutes of operation,
but decreased to approximately 25% in 120 minutes
of treatment at 5 V and a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min.
REFERENCES
Adams, M.D. 1990. The chemical behaviour of cyanide in
the extraction of gold. 2. Mechanisms of cyanide loss
in the carbon-in-pulp process. The Southern African
Institute of Mining and Metallurgy 90 (3):67–73.
Adams, M.D. 2001. A methodology for determining the
deportment of cyanide losses in gold plants. Minerals
Engineering 14(4):383–390.
Brillas, E., Sirés, I., and Oturan, M.A. 2009. Electro-Fenton
Process and Related Electrochemical Technologies
Based on Fenton’s Reaction Chemistry. Chemical
Reviews 109(12):6570–6631.
Brillas, E., Martínez-Huitle, C.A. 2015. Decontamination
of wastewaters containing synthetic organic dyes by
electrochemical methods. An updated review. Applied
Catalysis B: Environmental 166–167:603–643.
Cho, Y., Cattrall, R.W., and Kolev, S.D., 2018. A novel
polymer inclusion membrane based method for con-
tinuous clean-up of thiocyanate from gold mine tailings
water. Journal of Hazardous Materials 341:297– 303.
Comninellis, C., Kapalka, A., Malato, S., Parsons, S.A.,
Poulios, I., and Mantzavinos, D. 2008. Advanced oxi-
dation processes for water treatment: advances and
trends for R&D. Journal of Chemical Technology and
Biotechnology 83, 769–776.
Gonen, N. 2003. Leaching of finely disseminated gold ore
with cyanide and thiourea solutions. Hydrometallurgy
69, 169–176.
Gauguin, R. 1951. Oxydation electrochimique de l’ion
thiocyanique. Application aux dosages et ä l’étude des
reactions. Analytica Chimica Acta 5, 200–214.
0
10
20
30
40
50
5 10 15 30 60 90 120
Operation Time (min.)
Figure 9. The removal efficiency (%)of thiocyanate at various time intervals for 120 minutes
SCNRemoval
Efficiency
%