Removal of cyanide in aqueous solution by oxidation with hydrogen peroxide in presence of activated alumina

This work is dedicated to the removal of free cyanide from aqueous solution by oxidation with hydrogen peroxide H2O2 catalyzed by neutral activated alumina. Effects of initial molar ratio [H2O2]0/[CN−]0, catalyst amount, pH, and temperature on cyanide removal have been examined. The presence of activated alumina has increased the reaction rate showing thus, a catalytic activity. The rate of removal of cyanides increases with rising initial molar ratio [H2O2]0/[CN−]0 but decreases at pH 10 to 12. Increasing the alumina amount from 1.0 to 30 g/L has a beneficial effect, and increasing the temperature from 20 °C to 35 °C improves cyanide removal. The kinetics of cyanide removal has been found to be of pseudo-first-order with respect to cyanide and the rate constants have been determined.