The Effect of Chlorination on Organocyanide Compounds

Theis, Thomas L.; Young, Thomas C.

doi:10.2175/106143002x139749

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…The mechanism of cyanide and CNCl formation from glycine in water under free chlorine conditions has been reported by Na and Olson (2006). Monochloramine has been shown to react with formaldehyde and eventually yield HCN (Pedersen et al, 1999); organocyanide compounds (cyanocobalamin and coenzyme vitamin B12) release free or metal-complexed cyanide upon chlorination (Yi et al, 2002); solutions of L-serine that were chlorinated and subsequently dechlorinated were shown to produce cyanide (Zheng et al, 2004a); reaction of nitrite with aromatic compounds can produce cyanide (Zheng et al, 2004b); microorganisms have been shown to be capable of producing cyanide (Brandl, 2005); less than stoichiometric chlorination of thiocyanate can liberate free cyanide (Zheng et al, 2004c); and, it was found that phenol reacts with nitrous acid to produce cyanide ions (Adachi et al, 2003). The potential for chloramination to yield cyanide from organic compounds was demonstrated in earlier experiments using synthetic solutions spiked with select precursor organics such as ascorbic acid, humic acid, D-ribose, and 2-furaldehyde (Carr et al, 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Factors Affecting Cyanide Generation in Chlorinated Wastewater Effluent Matrix

Pandit¹,

Young²,

Pang³

et al. 2006

proc water environ fed

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False positives for cyanide analysis in wastewaters have been reported. We examined the effects of storage time at high pH and of pH adjustments on the cyanide levels. Cyanide levels changed within the holding time allowed by Standard Methods. We also studied the difference in cyanide levels using two disinfection conditions --breakpoint chlorination and chloramination. Glycine was used as the precursor to study the cyanide formation pathways. Under breakpoint chlorination conditions, cyanide formation is complete relatively quickly and detectable cyanogen chloride is produced. On the other hand, chloramination yields cyanide through a relatively slow, base-catalyzed reaction. Chloramination followed by dechlorination with sodium arsenite and addition of NaOH results in cyanide levels that increase significantly upon reanalysis in the first 24 hours and then remain relatively constant after that time. Cyanogen chloride (CNCl) was <5 ppb in samples disinfected with chloramination. Mechanisms are proposed that explain the very different cyanide results that are obtained when disinfection is carried out under breakpoint chlorination conditions versus chloramination conditions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Factors Affecting Cyanide Generation in Chlorinated Wastewater Effluent Matrix

Pandit¹,

Young²,

Pang³

et al. 2006

proc water environ fed

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“…Also as part of this task, laboratory studies were performed to explore the potential contribution of organocyanide compounds in wastewater to elevated cyanide levels in the chlorinated effluents of POTWs (Yi et al, 2002). Four model organocyanide compounds (acetonitrile, amygdalin, cyanocobalamin and 2-acetoxy-3-butenenitrile) were selected and tested with varying chlorine dosages for release of cyanide by total and diffusible cyanide procedures.…”

Section: Evaluation and Testing Of Analytical Methods For Cyanide Spementioning

confidence: 99%

Cyanide Formation and Fate in Complex Effluents and Its Relation to Water Quality Criteria: Results From a Three-Year Werf Study

Deeb¹,

Dzombak²,

Young³

et al. 2003

proc water environ fed

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Numerous wastewater plants across the United States have detected cyanide levels in their effluents that exceed influent concentrations. Researchers have found that these low concentrations of cyanide, generally less than 25 µg/L as free cyanide, can be formed during disinfection. Because discharge limits for total cyanide are very low, the cyanide generated during disinfection may exceed National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit limits. Complicating the situation, analytical interferences in monitoring samples can lead to cyanide false positives, and current methods for analyzing cyanide species have method detection limits that are very close to the discharge limits.In an effort to address research gaps associated with cyanide formation, fate in complex effluents and its relation to water quality criteria, a three-year research project was initiated by the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) in 1998. First, seven analytical methods for cyanide species were evaluated and tested in municipal and industrial wastewaters. Second, the sources, transport and fate of cyanide species in POTWs and receiving waters were evaluated using laboratory, modeling and field studies. Third, information on the toxicity of cyanide species to aquatic organisms was compiled and synthesized. Finally, current U.S. and state cyanide water quality criteria were evaluated. This manuscript will summarize key findings of the WERF study (Deeb et al., 2003a). In addition, based on the findings of this study, strategies that can be pursued by municipal and industrial dischargers in order to comply with cyanide standards will be presented.

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“…Possible mechanisms for cyanide formation in the wastewater treatment processes have been identified in laboratory scale experiments. Monochloramine has been shown to react with formaldehyde and eventually yield HCN (Pedersen et al, 1999); organocyanide compounds (cyanocobalamin and coenzyme vitamin B12) release free or metal-complexed cyanide upon chlorination (Yi et al, 2002); solutions of L-serine that were chlorinated and subsequently dechlorinated were shown to produce cyanide (Zheng et al, 2004a); reaction of nitrite with aromatic compounds can produce cyanide (Zheng et al, 2004b); microorganisms have been shown to be capable of producing cyanide (Brandl, 2005); less than stoichiometric chlorination of thiocyanate can liberate free cyanide (Zheng et al, 2004c); and, it was found that phenol reacts with nitrous acid to produce cyanide ions (Adachi et al, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cyanide Generation During Preservation of Chlorinated Wastewater Effluent Samples for Total Cyanide Analysis

Khoury¹,

Pang²,

Young³

et al. 2008

Water Environment Research

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Dechlorinating agents and pH adjustment are often used to preserve wastewater samples for cyanide analysis. The effects of four approved preservation protocols on the results of the total cyanide analysis of effluents from four Water Reclamation Plants (WRPs) were examined. The results differed widely, and a clear pattern emerged. Immediate analysis without pH adjustment generally gave total cyanide concentrations below the reporting limit of 5 µg/L, irrespective of the dechlorinating agents used. When the pH was adjusted to ≥ 12, a slight increase in the measured total cyanide concentration was observed when thiosulfate was used to dechlorinate the samples, and a significant increase (> 10 µg/L) was observed when arsenite was used as the dechlorinating agent. These results provide evidence that approved preservation protocols may give rise to cyanide formation in chlorinated wastewater effluent matrices.

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The Effect of Chlorination on Organocyanide Compounds

Cited by 8 publications

References 18 publications

Factors Affecting Cyanide Generation in Chlorinated Wastewater Effluent Matrix

Factors Affecting Cyanide Generation in Chlorinated Wastewater Effluent Matrix

Cyanide Formation and Fate in Complex Effluents and Its Relation to Water Quality Criteria: Results From a Three-Year Werf Study

Cyanide Generation During Preservation of Chlorinated Wastewater Effluent Samples for Total Cyanide Analysis

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