Anaerobic biodegradation of cyanide under methanogenic conditions.
Upflow, anaerobic, fixed-bed, activated charcoal biotreatment columns capable of operating at free cyanide concentrations of greater than 100 mg liter-1 with a hydraulic retention time of less than 48 h were developed. Methanogenesis was maintained under a variety of feed medium conditions which included ethanol, phenol, or methanol as the primary reduced carbon source. Under optimal conditions, greater than 70% of the inflow free cyanide was removed in the first 30% of the column height. Strongly complexed cyanides were resistant to removal. Ammonia was the nitrogen end product of cyanide transformation. In cell material removed from the charcoal columns, [14C]bicarbonate was the major carbon end product of [14C]cyanide transformation.
Fallon
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RD
Central Research & Development Department, E.I. DuPont & Co., Inc., Wilmington, Delaware 19880-0173.
Cooper
D A
DA
Speece
R
R
Henson
M
M
D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002606:Charcoal; D003486:Cyanides / Q000378:metabolism*; D019605:Euryarchaeota / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid
D003486:Cyanides; D002606:Charcoal; D008697:Methane