Cyanides trivalent iron

A). Cyanide ions (CN ) enter the organism in the form of hydrocyanic acid (HCN) the latter can be inhaled, released from cyanide salts in the acidic stomach juice, or enzymatically liberated from bitter almonds in the gastrointestinal tract The lethal dose of HCN can be as low as 50 mg. CN binds with high affinity to trivalent iron and thereby arrests utilization of oxygen via mitochondrial cytochrome oxidases of the respiratory chain An internal asphyxiation (histotoxic hypoxia) ensues while erythrocytes remain charged with O2 (venous blood colored bright red). 

We are only concerned, in this connection, with how Iron Blue arises from hydrogen cyanide and iron compounds in building materials. In building materials, the iron is generally present in trivalent form (Fe3+), in the form of rust . 

The cyanide ion is readily absorbed from the lungs and reacts readily with the trivalent iron of cytochrome oxidase in the mitochondria. Cellular respiration is thus inhibited and cytotoxic hypoxia results (Klaassen 1985). In the thyroid gland CN" competes with iodine. At 4 h 1 thyroid uptake studies showed a much higher concentration of iodine in the glands of cyanide-exposed workers than in those of the control group (El Ghawabi et al. 1975). 

Environmental applications require detoxification of hazardous substances to a level of parts per million (ppm) and even parts per billion (ppb). These purity levels, which were rarely considered in product synthesis, are now possible for wastewater due to Fenton s reagent. Fenton s oxidant is cost effective and relatively fast in destroying many toxics (Bigda, 1996). It attacks all reactive substrate concentrations under acidic conditions. Hydrogen peroxide is used to remove such contaminants as cyanide, sulfides, sulfites, chrome, and heavy metals by varying batch conditions. With an iron catalyst, the process often oxidizes organics, as well as reducing hexavalent chrome to trivalent precipitable form. 

In an analogous manne three isomerides are, theoretically, possible for potassium ferricyamdc, K3Fe(CN)6, in vhich the central iron atom is trivalent. All of these cyclic schemes are m harmony with the isocyamc structure of ferrous cyanide, They also serve to explain why the potassium ions are ionisable, whereas the iron atom, bound within the centre of the shell, constitutes part of the negative radicle. 

Pyrazolin-5-ones form complexes with both inorganic and organic compounds much more readily than do the 2-pyrazolin-5-ones. The most extensive series of complexes is that formed with a variety of metallic salts. Antipyrine (2,3-dimethyl-l-phenyl-3-pyrazolin-5-one) forms a series of complexes with salts of divalent, trivalent and tetra-valent metals. Two molecules of antipyrine form a complex with one molecule of copper, cadmium, cobalt and zinc salts.266,866,1116 Complexes prepared from metallic nitrates are usually hydrated.1322 There also exists a series of complexes in which three molecules of antipyrine form a complex with one or two molecules of metallic salts. Such complexes form with two molecules of simple ferric salts272 or with one of complex iron cyanides.608 Nitrates of thorium, lanthanum, cerium and samarium also give such complexes.841 This ratio also occurs in some antipyrine complexes with cadmium and zinc thiocyanate.266 A number of salts of rare earths and iron which have complex anions such as thiosulfate, thiocyanate, dithionic acid and complex iron cyanides form complexes in which six molecules of antipyrine are present.405,408 608,841,950 Stannic chloride forms salts containing three or four molecules of antipyrine and hydrochloric acid.46... 

The pretreatment miit operations for various types of treatment facilities are shown in Table 24. The pretreatment processes generally involve separate treatment of cyanide wastes and other acid wastes containing metal ions. The cyanide wastes can be treated with ferrous sulfate and lime to convert highly toxic cyanides to less toxic cyanates or cyanide complexes, or can be oxidized to COj and Nj with chlorine under alkaline conditions. The acid waste streams are treated first to reduce hexavalent chromium to trivalent chromium, using ferrous sulfate, scrap iron, or sulfur dioxide, and then precipitating the metal ions (Cr +) as metal hydroxides. 

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