Optimization of Factors for the Biological Treatment of Free and Complexed Cyanide

Mexico is characterized as a mining country since it the world’s main silver producer. During its extraction, wastewater (mining tailings) generated which contains cyanide and heavy metals. The purpose of this research was to determine whether bacterial consortium isolated from tailings dam can use source nitrogen carbon carry out biodegradation. study determined effects three physicochemical factors (pH, temperature inoculum concentration) metals (copper, iron nickel) on results showed that highest removals were obtained when working with pH 9.5, 25 °C 15% v/v (88%), while optimum values for copper, nickel 0, 7.7 0.46 mg·L−1, respectively, showing copper causes an inhibitory effect (cyanide biodegradation 68%) bacteria consequently biological degradation promote pollutant by 91%.