Cyanide spill

Toomey, J.J.E. 1984. Electrochemical oxidation of pyridine bases US patent 4482439. UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme). Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2000. Cyanide Spill at Baia Mare Romania. Report, Geneva, Switzerland. 

UNEP/OCHA. 2000. Report on the cyanide spill at Baia Mare, Romania. The regional environmental center for central and eastern Europe, Szentendre. 

The removal of dead fish from the Tisza River in Hungary following the cyanide spill from the Aurul gold mine, Romania, on 9 February... 

As already stated, the water used in the television experiment was only similar to the Tisza water in its concentration of cyanide. The pollution, in fact, came from a gold mine. In a gold mine, metals that are above gold in the periodic table (silver and, mainly, copper) are also present. So the pollution that was ealled a cyanide spill in the press actually contained a number of additional eomponents. The presence of copper itself would have not been a problem, but its interaetion with cyanide ions fundamentally altered the ehentieal properties. Even among ehemists, heated debates followed among those who were not aware of all important facts. 

Fig. 4.28 Change of the concentration of species present as a function of the amount of added iron(ll) sulfate under the typical conditions ofthe 2000 cyanide spill neglecting (Irff) and considering (right) the presence of copper. (Authors own work)...

Cyanide spill worst disaster since Chernobyl , Chemistry and Industry, 21st February, 2000. 124 http //findarticles.com/p/articles/mi hb5255/is 2000 Feb 21/ain28765356/ tag=mantie skin content (last access February 25,2014). 

Cyanide spills in general were tracked using data from National Analysis of Trends in Emergencies Systems (NATES) for 1974 to 1995 (Environment Canada, 2000). This is shown in Eig. 39.3 and includes spills of cyanide leachates, sodium cyanide, cyanide not otherwise specified (nos), and cyanide/copper tailings. As can be seen in Fig. 39.4, cyanide nos is the largest of the spills and may contain any cations with cyanide or the cyanide ion itself. 

FIGURE 393 Number of sodium cyanide spills from 1974-1995. (Source Environment Canada, 2000.)... 

On January 30, 2000, the Baia Mare gold mine in Romania reported a massive cyanide spill when the tailings dam collapsed due to pressure from snow buildup. Baia Mare is owned and operated by the Romanian company Aurul and Esmeralda Explorations Limited of Perth,... 

Spread of the cyanide spill from Baia Mare cyanide concentration values... 

FIGURE 393 Tracking the sodium cyanide spill from Baia Mare. (Source MTI, 2000.)... 

Cyanide Spill at Omai Gold Mines, Guyana... 

Cyanide spills can also be neutralized with peroxide by the Degussa method, in which the pH is maintained above 9 (between 9.0 and 10.5) to avoid formation of toxic NCI3, nitrogen trichloride. The Degussa method is shown below ... 

When 200 L of cyanide were spilled into the River Wey in Surrey, England in May 1999, peroxide was added to the river to save the fish. The peroxide breaks down into water and oxygen and raises the pH of the polluted water, causing the cyanide to break down more rapidly. The fish were saved by the additional oxygen added. The Environment Agency s Thames Region now includes peroxide crystals, or sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate, in their response kits for cyanide spills (OSHS, 1999). 

Cameco. 1998. Information on the May 20, 1998 Truck Accident and Sodium Cyanide Spill, Saskatoon, SK, September 29, http //www.cameco.com/investor/news releases/mdex.html. 

Canada NewWire (CNW). The International Scientific Commission Presents Its Final Report on the Cyanide Spill, September 25, http //www.newswire.ca/releases/Septemberl998/25/c6477.html. 

Globe and Mail [Toronto]. 1998. Cameco Denies Cyanide Spill Killed Woman. Doctors in Kyigyzstan Say Previous lUness was Aggravated by Poison in Nearby River, June 5. 

MU. 2000. Spread of the Cyanide Spill from Baia Mare, Ministry for Environmental Protection, Hungary, Environmental Inspectorates, MU Co. Media Data Bank, http //www.zpok.hu/ jfeiler/images/ma-pen.jpg, February 20. 

Trip, L., and B. Blakeman. 1995. Advice to Minister on Subject Cambior Inc. Cyanide Spill in Guyana, Letter from Environmental Protection Service, Environment Canada, Februtiry 14, pp. 1-2. 

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