Mindanao State University Iligan Institute of Technology

College of Engineering
Department of Ceramics, Metallurgical and Mining Engineering

Determination of Free Cyanide and Protective Alkalinity

Veralu G. Palanas
Student

Marilou E. Legaspi
Instructor

March 07, 2014

I. Introduction

Background of the Study

Cyanide is a rapidly acting, potentially deadly chemical that can exist in various forms. In
metallurgy, cyanide salt is used for electroplating, metal cleaning, and removing gold from its ore.
Acidity and alkalinity measurements are used to assist in establishing levels of chemical
treatment to control scale, corrosion, and other adverse chemical equilibrium.

Objective of the Study

This experiment is used to determine the free cyanide content and the protective alkalinity
or calcium oxide content of a cyanide leaching solutions.

Significance of the Study

To assess or evaluate the free cyanide content and the protective alkalinity or calcium
oxide content of a cyanide leaching solution.

II. Materials

Mettle Balance Sodium Cyanide

Erlenmeyer Flask (125mL) Lime
Volumetric Flask (1000mL) Distilled water
Beakers (500mL) Oxalic Acid or Sulfuric Acid
Burettes
Bottle rollers 400g ground gold-silver bearing
1L bottle ore
Silver Nitrate
III. Methodology
Flowchart of Procedure

Leaching Silver Nitrate Cyanide

400g Leaching
Solution Solution Leaching
Dry Ore Preparation Preparation

Titration with Silver

Clennel's Filtration CN
Siver Nitrate Nitrate Solution
Method Solution
Sol'n Preparation

Data Analysis

IV. Experimental Procedure

A 400 grams of dry ore, weighed using an analytical balance was placed in
a rolling bottle containing 600 ml of cyanide solution. The cyanide solution was prepared
by combining 3 grams of cyanide and 3 grams of lime (60% CaO). It was leached for two
hours.
At the same time, a standard silver nitrate solution was prepared by
dissolving 4.33 grams of silver nitrate in distilled water and after was diluted to 1 liter.
Twenty five mL fraction was collected from the cyanide solution leached beforehand. It
was filtered and place in a 125 mL Erlenmeyer flask. Silver nitrate was added until the
appearance of a bluish haze. The bluish haze was observable when place against a black
background. The volume of silver nitrate added was recorded. The volume was
multiplied by 0.1 to get the percent NaCN.
The protective alkalinity was determine used Clennels Method. Two
drops of phenolphthalein indicator was added to the solution used in the free cyanide
 determination. The solution turned pink signified that it is alkaline. The standard acid was
added until the pink color disappears, and the burette reading was noted.

V. Results and Discussion

No experimental result has been done due to inadequacy of Silver nitrate.

VI. Conclusion and Recommendation

No conclusion has been done due to inadequacy of Silver nitrate.

The test was not able to finish due to inadequacy of Silver nitrate. So, it is
highly recommended to have this costly solution for us to obtained results in which we
can account for this experiment.

VII. Reference
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/water-eau/cyanide-cyanure/index-eng.php
http://www.saimm.co.za/Journal/v083n01p011.pdf
http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/testmethods/pdfs/9016.pdf