No registration or passwords; no pop-up ads -- just aloha, fun, & answers.
(as an eBay Partner & Amazon Affiliate earns from qualifying purchases).
Home /
T.O.C.
Fun
FAQs
Good
Books
Ref.
Libr.
Advertise
 
Help
Wanted
Current
Q&A's
Site 🔍
Search
pub  Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989



-----

Cyanide Testing Methods




Q. We are looking for a more accurate testing method for the presence of total and amenable cyanide in our treated wastewater.

We are presently using Hach 2010 Spectrophotometer [adv: Hach spectrophotometers on eBay or Amazon] to test for amenable cyanide only.The test method is 8027 (Pyridine-Pyrazalone Method)in accordance with the Hach Manual.

The detection level for the above test is 0.0 to 0.2 milligrams per liter.

Our test results don't always match with the Certified Lab.

Does anybody know of a more accurate method to test for cyanide?

Ed Esposito
- jersey city, New Jersey
2000



"Operation & Maintenance of Surface Finishing Wastewater Treatment Systems"
by Clarence Roy

on AbeBooks

or eBay or

Amazon

(affil links)

"Water and Waste Control for the plating Shop"
by Kushner & Kushner

on AbeBooks

or eBay or

Amazon

(affil links)

A. First of all, are you doing the distillation? I do not have the Hach book in front of me, so I don't know whether that's in the method you cited. That's the most obvious cause for the discrepancy.

If you are distilling, make sure all the free chlorine and other oxidizers are neutralized beforehand. Samples can easily contain enough free chlorine to kill the test and give a false negative even if the reaction with potassium iodide/ starch paper [affil links] is negative.

If, on the other hand, you have excess sulfites, these will generate SO2 that will be absorbed in the sparger solution along with the HCN. This will neutralize the Chloramine 'T' in the Hach CyaniVer 3 pillow and give a false negative. The sulfites need to be oxidized in the sample (best) or in the distillate with a minimum of 30% hydrogen peroxide. Or, you can dilute the sample. The portion you're analyzing should give a positive potassium iodide/starch reaction after the addition of the Chloramine 'T' or CyaniVer 3 pillow.

Another hint; dilute the sample as much as possible before distilling. The test is extremely sensitive and it's generally possible to dilute it by a factor of 2 - 4 and still be able to report a limit of detection of 0.1 mg/l.

Lastly, cyanide analysis is a tricky business and discrepancies between the lab results are very common. A good internal QC check you can do is to add 1.0 mg/l cyanide to your sample, then test and see if the addition shows up in the result. Don't assume that *you're* wrong - the mistake could be at the outside lab.

dave wichern
Dave Wichern
Consultant - The Bronx, New York
2000



Q. What is the simple spot test for cyanide present in outgoing effluent?

chandramanipg
own plating - Bangalore,Karnataka, India
September 16, 2012



A. Hi Chandra.

Although there is actually no simple spot test for cyanide, there is a simple spot test for free chlorine -- namely, that potassium iodide starch paper [affil links] will turn dark blue to purple in the presence of free chlorine.

If the pH is right and there is free chlorine available, the correct milieu has been established for the destruction of amenable cyanide, so the starch paper [affil links] is often used as a quick spot test for amenable cyanide.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, finishing.com
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
September 19, 2012




(No "dead threads" here! If this page isn't currently on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will restore it)

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread

Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories:

 
Jobshops
Capital
Equipment
Chemicals &
Consumables
Consult'g, Train'g
& Software


About/Contact  -  Privacy Policy  -  ©1995-2024 finishing.com, Pine Beach, New Jersey, USA  -  about "affil links"