Novel cyanide electro-biodegradation using Bacillus pumilus ATCC 7061 in aqueous solution

Background

Electro-biodegradation is a novel technique for cyanide degradation in aqueous solutions. Many physical, chemical, and biological methods have been developed and used to treat cyanide degradation. The biological methods are more environmentally-friendly and economically cost-effective when compared to other techniques, however, the process reaction time period is much longer and the efficiency is lower.

Methods

In this research, the bacterial strain, Bacillus pumilus ATCC 7061, was tested for the first time to introduce the Cyanide Electro-biodegradation technique. By using a direct current power supply, electrons were generated in an electro-biodegradation cell containing culture media at free cyanide concentrations of 100 to 500 mg/l, under alkaline conditions.

Results

Experimental tests showed that when electrons were added and bacteria were inoculated into the aqueous media containing 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mg/l of free cyanide, the cyanide degradation efficiency increased from 16.2, 21.6, 29.5, 38.7 and 44.5% to 98.6, 99.3, 99.7, 99.8 and 99.7%, in 36, 72, 137, 233 and 301 h, respectively. The results show that by adding electrons, the process reaction time decreases and cyanide degradation efficiency increases significantly.

Conclusions

The results presented here demonstrate for the first time the importance and the significance of the electro-biodegradation technique in the efficient degradation and removal of cyanide present in aqueous solutions.