Transport and Fate of Cyanide in Soil : Case Study of Mooteh Valley

Cyanide, a generic term referring to all compounds containing the cyanide group –CN, is a highly potent and fast-acting poison to humans and other living organisms when exposed to high levels. Cyanide is a widely and essential chemical used in mining and minerals processing industries and many other...

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Main Authors: Amir Taebi, Ali Reza Zade Bafqi, Majid Sartaj
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Water and Wastewater Consulting Engineers Research Development 2006-01-01
Series:آب و فاضلاب
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.wwjournal.ir/article_2194_d3d7c3aefb21301a812dc57665cbf3bc.pdf
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author Amir Taebi
Ali Reza Zade Bafqi
Majid Sartaj
author_facet Amir Taebi
Ali Reza Zade Bafqi
Majid Sartaj
author_sort Amir Taebi
collection DOAJ
description Cyanide, a generic term referring to all compounds containing the cyanide group –CN, is a highly potent and fast-acting poison to humans and other living organisms when exposed to high levels. Cyanide is a widely and essential chemical used in mining and minerals processing industries and many other industries such as metal processing and production of organic chemicals. While some industrial cyanide-containing wastes are treated or recovered, there are cases such as certain gold extraction plants where wastes are released in the environment. The objective of this research is to study the transport and fate of cyanide in soil in vicinity of a specific pollution source. For the purpose of this study, Mooteh valley, in the vicinity of Mooteh gold mine and factory, in the north of Isfahan province, Iran, was investigated. In Mooteh's Plant, the cyanide-containing waste (slurry tailings) is discharged to tailings ponds and there is potential for cyanide to migrate from them. Eight boreholes with 6 m depth were dug and from every 0.5 m a soil sample was taken. Statistical analysis of the results show that soil cyanide concentration decreases with distance from the tailings ponds (as a pollution source) and increases with depth. A regression model consisting of a power term for distance and an exponential term for soil depth can appropriately predict the soil cyanide concentration in the vicinity of a pollution source. As soil depth decreases, the rate of natural cyanide fate processes considerably increases. So, soil turn over practices is recommended to improve remediation of polluted sites
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spelling doaj.art-1ff59634f82540758c0a4202c9adb4d22022-12-21T22:47:57ZengWater and Wastewater Consulting Engineers Research Developmentآب و فاضلاب1024-59362383-09052006-01-0116421292194Transport and Fate of Cyanide in Soil : Case Study of Mooteh ValleyAmir Taebi0Ali Reza Zade Bafqi1Majid Sartaj2Associate Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology.Grad Student of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Detpt. of Civil Engineering, Isfahan Univerisity of TechnologyAssistant Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Isfahan University of TechnologyCyanide, a generic term referring to all compounds containing the cyanide group –CN, is a highly potent and fast-acting poison to humans and other living organisms when exposed to high levels. Cyanide is a widely and essential chemical used in mining and minerals processing industries and many other industries such as metal processing and production of organic chemicals. While some industrial cyanide-containing wastes are treated or recovered, there are cases such as certain gold extraction plants where wastes are released in the environment. The objective of this research is to study the transport and fate of cyanide in soil in vicinity of a specific pollution source. For the purpose of this study, Mooteh valley, in the vicinity of Mooteh gold mine and factory, in the north of Isfahan province, Iran, was investigated. In Mooteh's Plant, the cyanide-containing waste (slurry tailings) is discharged to tailings ponds and there is potential for cyanide to migrate from them. Eight boreholes with 6 m depth were dug and from every 0.5 m a soil sample was taken. Statistical analysis of the results show that soil cyanide concentration decreases with distance from the tailings ponds (as a pollution source) and increases with depth. A regression model consisting of a power term for distance and an exponential term for soil depth can appropriately predict the soil cyanide concentration in the vicinity of a pollution source. As soil depth decreases, the rate of natural cyanide fate processes considerably increases. So, soil turn over practices is recommended to improve remediation of polluted siteshttp://www.wwjournal.ir/article_2194_d3d7c3aefb21301a812dc57665cbf3bc.pdfCyanideNatural DegradationCyanide FateGold Mine TailingsTailings PondPollution TransportSoil pollution
spellingShingle Amir Taebi
Ali Reza Zade Bafqi
Majid Sartaj
Transport and Fate of Cyanide in Soil : Case Study of Mooteh Valley
آب و فاضلاب
Cyanide
Natural Degradation
Cyanide Fate
Gold Mine Tailings
Tailings Pond
Pollution Transport
Soil pollution
title Transport and Fate of Cyanide in Soil : Case Study of Mooteh Valley
title_full Transport and Fate of Cyanide in Soil : Case Study of Mooteh Valley
title_fullStr Transport and Fate of Cyanide in Soil : Case Study of Mooteh Valley
title_full_unstemmed Transport and Fate of Cyanide in Soil : Case Study of Mooteh Valley
title_short Transport and Fate of Cyanide in Soil : Case Study of Mooteh Valley
title_sort transport and fate of cyanide in soil case study of mooteh valley
topic Cyanide
Natural Degradation
Cyanide Fate
Gold Mine Tailings
Tailings Pond
Pollution Transport
Soil pollution
url http://www.wwjournal.ir/article_2194_d3d7c3aefb21301a812dc57665cbf3bc.pdf
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