Grant: Engage Grants Program
Laurentian University of Sudbury
$24,134.00
Exploring a method to destroy cyanide using electrochemical methods
FY 2013-14
Summary
In gold mining industries, cyanide solutions are often used to leach the precious metal from an oxidized ore.During this process, cyanide becomes a component in the mill effluent streams and because of its toxicity, itmust be treated to lower the concentrations prior to discharge into the environment. Currently, there are severaltechnologies suited for cyanide destruction but one underused yet potentially cost effective method wouldinclude an electrochemical destruction procedure. The goal of the project is to explore the use of manganesedioxide coated lead based anodes for the destruction of cyanide in gold mill effluent streams. The project buildson previous studies reported in the literature which have demonstrated electrochemical decomposition ofcyanide at lead dioxide coated anodes. While these systems have demonstrated electrochemical cyanidedestruction, the efficiency is low due to competing electrochemical reactions such as oxygen evolution. In thecurrent research project, these lead based anodes will be further modified with a manganese dioxide layer tomitigate the inefficiencies associate with oxygen evolution reactions.
Program
Engage Grants Program
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
462174-2013
Name nom
Shepherd, Jeffrey
Department département
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Organization id
26
Institution établissement
Laurentian University of Sudbury
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2013
Competition year année de concours
2013
Award amount
24134
Program id
EGP
Program name en
Engage Grants Program
Program name fr
Programme de subventions d'engagement partenariat
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1553
Committee name en
Ontario Internal Decision Committee
Committee name fr
Comité de décision interne pour l'Ontario
Area of application code
400
Area of application group en
Environment
Area of application group fr
Environnement
Area of application en
Environment
Area of application fr
Environnement
Research subject code
1400
Research subject group en
Mining and mineral processing
Research subject group fr
Génie minier et minéral
Research subject en
Mining and mineral processing
Research subject fr
Génie minier et minéral
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Exploring a method to destroy cyanide using electrochemical methods
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
In gold mining industries, cyanide solutions are often used to leach the precious metal from an oxidized ore.During this process, cyanide becomes a component in the mill effluent streams and because of its toxicity, itmust be treated to lower the concentrations prior to discharge into the environment. Currently, there are severaltechnologies suited for cyanide destruction but one underused yet potentially cost effective method wouldinclude an electrochemical destruction procedure. The goal of the project is to explore the use of manganesedioxide coated lead based anodes for the destruction of cyanide in gold mill effluent streams. The project buildson previous studies reported in the literature which have demonstrated electrochemical decomposition ofcyanide at lead dioxide coated anodes. While these systems have demonstrated electrochemical cyanidedestruction, the efficiency is low due to competing electrochemical reactions such as oxygen evolution. In thecurrent research project, these lead based anodes will be further modified with a manganese dioxide layer tomitigate the inefficiencies associate with oxygen evolution reactions.
