Photocatalytic degradation of ferricyanide as synthetic gold mining wastewater using TiO2 assisted by H2O2

Abstract Ferricyanide Fe(CN) 6 3- is one of the most stable cyanometallic complexes present in the gold mining effluents. This cyanocomplex is hard to degrade by natural attenuation and generates a negative impact on aquatic environments. Although free cyanide (CN-) can be obtained by acidifying the solution, the CN- is lethal for all forms of life. The oxidation of Fe(CN) 6 3- in a typical photocatalitic system was evaluated with the addition of H2O2. To verify the degradation, chemical parameters, such as free cyanide, the formation of ammonia, nitrate, and total iron were analyzed at the en...