**Review of the Impact on Water Quality and Treatment Options of Cyanide Used in Gold Ore Processing Review of the Impact on Water Quality and Treatment Options of Cyanide Used in Gold Ore Processing**

Benias C. Nyamunda Benias C. Nyamunda

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/65706

### **Abstract**

Cyanide has been widely used in several industrial applications such as electroplating photography, metal processing, agriculture, food and the production of organic chemicals, plastics, paints and insecticides. The strong affinity of cyanide for metals such as gold and silver makes it suitable for selective leaching of these metals from ores. Cyanide is highly toxic; hence, there is a need to regulate and limit the amount of cyanide that may be discharged into the environment. Technologies focusing on the use of physical, chemical and biological methods have been developed to reduce the concentration of cyanide and cyanide compounds in wastewaters to permissible limits. This chapter reviews the current and emerging technologies for treatment of cyanide from wastewaters generated in gold mining processes.

**Keywords:** cyanide, gold, leaching, oxidation, wastewater
