ELECTROCHEMICALLY TREATING AQUEOUS THIOCYANATE SOLUTIONS

摘要

A process for the recovery of cyanide from thiocyanate. An aqueous solution containing thiocyanate is introduced into an electrochemical reactor. The reactor is activated for an appropriate time period while the pH of the solution is maintained in the range of 1 to 4. The cyanide formed can be recovered, in various ways including recovery as hydrocyanic acid. Where desired, the thiocyanate can be oxidized in the reactor for a longer time period while the pH of the solution is maintained in the range of 10 to 12, to produce relatively harmless products, for example cyanate, ammonia, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. The process is particularly useful to process thiocyanate containing wastes produced in the processing of gold and silver ores and concentrates, unit operations related to base metal processing, coking operations and petroleum refining.