A Novel Biological Strategy for the Management Industrial Effluents with Simultaneous Recovery of Metal Resource

Abstract:

The key objective of present study was to find out a novel and innovative strategy to tackle problem of cyanide and metal-cyanide pollution thereby leading to indirect mitigation of global warming. Studies were performed to test the feasibility of treating aqueous waste containing free cyanide (CN^-) and copper-cyanide {Tetracyanocuprate - TCC, [Cu (CN)₄]^-2} using microalgae Scenedesmus sp. that was isolated by enrichment culture technique under alkaline conditions. Results revealed that microalgae Scenedesmus sp. was capable of detoxifying cyanide and TCC (10-25 mg/l as CN^-) with an efficiency of >99% under aerated, static and illuminated conditions within a period of 48-96 h. Process parameters like pH (7-11), temperature (20-45°C), initial cell density (10³-10⁶ cells/ml) and varying concentration of cyanide and TCC (5-50 mg/l as CN^-) were optimized. Of the total copper ions released during biodegradation of TCC, 37% was adsorbed on the cells, while 67% was accumulated by Scenedesmus cells.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 1130)
• Pages: 640-643
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1130.640
• Online since: November 2015
• Authors: Yogesh Patil*, Prakash Rao
• Keywords: Biodegradation, Climate Change, Free Cyanide, Microalgae, Scenedesmus Sp., Tetracyanocuprate (TCC)

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