Abstract
The biodegradation of cyanides and the biosorption of toxic metals from mining process effluents are proven technologies which offer many advantages over chemical treatment methods. These advantages include cost effectiveness, treatment performance, resistance to upset, low sludge production, metals removal and recovery, flexible design characteristics, compatibility with effluent-receiving streams and the capability for self-regulation with changing process conditions.
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References
J.L. Whitlock and G.R. Smith, “Operation of Homestake’s Cyanide Biodegradation Wastewater System Based on Multi-Variable Trend Analysis,” Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Biohydrometallurgy, to be published.
J.L. Whitlock, “Performance of the Homestake Mining Company Biological Cyanide Degradation Wastewater Treatment Plant. August 1984–August 1986,” SME Annual Conference, Denver, CO (February 26, 1987).
J.L. Whitlock and T.I. Mudder, “The Homestake Wastewater Treatment Process: Biological Removal of Toxic Parameters from Cyanidation Wastewaters and Bioassay Effluent Evaluation,” Proceedings of the 6th International Symposium on Biohydrometallurgy, ed. R.W. Lawrence(Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1985), pp. 327–339.
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Whitlock, J. The advantages of biodegradation of cyanides. JOM 41, 46–47 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03220848
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03220848