Removal and Recovery of Metal Cyanides Using a Combination of Biosorption and Biodegradation Processes

Cladosporium cladosporioides biomass was a highly efficient biosorbent of copper cyanide and nickel cyanide from aqueous solutions. A 32-38 fold concentration of initial 0.5 mM metal cyanides could be achieved when biosorption process was carried out under standardised conditions. Residual, unrecoverable metal cyanide could be completely biodegraded in 5-6 h. The solution treated with the combined biosorption-biodegradation process was fit for discharge in the environment