CATALYTIC EFFECT OF METAL IONS ON THE OXIDATION OF THIOCYANATE IONS WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

Authors

• Sarvar B. RAJABOV, Uzbekistan-Japan Innovation Centre of Youth, Tashkent, UzbekistanFollow
• Salmon M. MUKHAMMADIEV, UUzbekistan-Japan Innovation Centre of Youth, Tashkent, UzbekistanFollow
• Berdakh T. DANIYAROV, Uzbekistan-Japan Innovation Centre of Youth, Tashkent, UzbekistanFollow
• Haci DEVECI, Karadeniz Technical University, Karadeniz, TurkeyFollow
• Shahlo Sh. DAMINOVA, Uzbekistan-Japan Innovation Centre of Youth, Tashkent, Uzbekistan; National University of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, UzbekistanFollow

Abstract

Thiocyanate (SCN⁻) ions, formed during the cyanidation of gold ores, pose a significant environmental problem when present in mine processing wastewater. In this study, the oxidation of potassium thiocyanate model solutions (10–1000 mg/L) with hydrogen peroxide, in the presence and absence of Cu²⁺ and Fe²⁺ ions, was investigated at room temperature. Residual SCN⁻ concentrations were determined by bromatometric titration and UV-spectroscopy. Without a catalyst, H₂O₂ showed the weakest effect at all concentrations, leaving 6–17% residual SCN⁻ even at the highest applied dose. The addition of Cu²⁺ and Fe²⁺ ions markedly accelerated oxidation via Fenton and Fenton-like mechanisms, achieving 95–100% removal efficiency at doses above 500 µL, with Fe²⁺ generally showing slightly higher catalytic activity than Cu²⁺. The catalytic effect became more pronounced as the initial concentration decreased: at 10 mg/L, complete (100%) degradation of thiocyanate was achieved in the presence of Fe²⁺. These findings recommend Fe²⁺- and Cu²⁺-catalyzed H₂O₂-based processes as a promising technological solution for the effective detoxification of thiocyanate-containing wastewater from gold processing plants.

Recommended Citation

RAJABOV, Sarvar B.; MUKHAMMADIEV, Salmon M.; DANIYAROV, Berdakh T.; DEVECI, Haci; and DAMINOVA, Shahlo Sh. () "CATALYTIC EFFECT OF METAL IONS ON THE OXIDATION OF THIOCYANATE IONS WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE," CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING: Vol. 2026: No. 3, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70189/1992-9498.1747
Available at: https://cce.researchcommons.org/journal/vol2026/iss3/6