Determination and detoxification of cyanide in gold mine tailings: A review

Cyanide is among the most toxic chemicals widely employed in the cyanidation process to leach precious minerals, such as gold and silver, by the minerals processing companies worldwide. This present article reviews the determination and detoxification of cyanide found in gold mine tailings. Most of the cyanide remains in the solution or the slurries after the cyanidation process. The cyanide species in the gold tailings are classified as free cyanide, weak acid dissociation, and metallocyanide complexes. Several methods, such as colorimetric, titrimetric, and electrochemical, have been developed to determine cyanide concentrations in gold mine effluents. Application of physical, natural, biological, and chemical methods to detoxify cyanide to a permissible limit (50 mg L-1) can be achieved when the chemical compositions of cyanide (type of species) present in the tailings are known. The levels of cyanide concentration determine the impact it will have on the environment.