Bio-Oxidation of Thiocyanates Typical of Coal Conversion Effluents. Final Report

• Main Authors: Neufeld, R. D., Mattson, L., Lubon, P.
• Other Authors: United States. Department of Energy.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: University of Pittsburgh 1981
• Subjects: Coal Gasification; Chemical Reactions; Waste Processing; Bacillus; Hormone Antagonists; Organic Compounds; 01 Coal; Lignite; And Peat; Processing; Oxidation; Kinetics; 32 Energy Conservation; Consumption; And Utilization; 54 Environmental Sciences; Numerical Data; Water Pollution Control; Thiocyanates; Data; Nitrogen Compounds; Materials Recovery; Antithyroid Drugs; 59 Basic Biological Sciences; Wastes 010800* > Coal; & Peat > Waste Management; Industrial Wastes; Removal; Coal Liquefaction; Biochemical Reaction Kinetics; Biodegradation; 320305 > Energy Conservation; & Utilization > Industrial & Agricultural Processes > Industrial Waste Management; By-Products; Drugs; Sulfates; Hydrides; Liquefaction; 520200 > Environment; Aquatic > Chemicals Monitoring & Transport > (-1989); Reaction Kinetics; Growth; Waste Management; Experimental Data; 550700 > Microbiology; Microorganisms; Thermochemical Processes; Bacteria; Oxygen Compounds; Batch Culture; Sludges; Management; Recovery; Information; Carbonic Acid Derivatives; Liquid Wastes; Gasification; Ammonia; Organic Sulfur Compounds; Denitrification; Hydrogen Compounds; Continuous Culture; Decomposition; Sulfur Compounds; Pollution Control; Nitrogen Hydrides; Carbonic acid
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.2172/6588165; https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1188276/

Thiocyanates have been found in most coal conversion and coke plant effluents. The objectives of this study were to develop data for the biological degradation fate kinetics of thiocyanate removal, and to develop material balance information for the fate of sulfur and nitrogen resulting from such bio-decomposition of aqueous thiocyanates. A literature review of thiocyanate bio-degradation indicates that while much biochemistry information is available, little information in the biological processing arena is known. Based on both batch and continuous culture experiments utilizing an activated sludge type of system with strictly thiocyanate degradating organisms, the specific utilization rate for SCN degradation was found to follow a substrate inhibition biokinetic relationship as: d(SCN)/dt-X = 2.24/(1 + (5/SCN) + (SCN/1340)/sup 6/) where; d(SCN)/dt-X = lb SCN used/lb biomass-day, SCN = mg/L SCN in effluent. The observed biomass sludge production rate was quantified as a function of sludge age in the bio-reactor. The major metabolic by-products of SCN aerobic biodegradation are ammonia and sulfate, with such formation being stochiometric with SCN. High levels of SCN in coal conversion and Stretford system effluents may lead to biological nitrification process requirements to be added to the wastetreatment scheme for compliance with BAT effluent ammonia discharge restrictions.