Removing cyanide by mixed culture at liquid media with variation in pH and cyanide concentration

Universitas Trisakti, Environmental Engineering Departement, Faculty of Landscape Architecture and Environmrntal Technology, Jakarta, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: rositayanti@trisakti.ac.id

Abstract

This preliminary study aims to investigate removal efficiency of cyanide by mixed culture Thiobacillus sp. and Clostridium sp. in a liquid media stone mineral salt solution (SMSs) with controlled condition. This research variation were pH 5, 7, and 9 and cyanide concentrate (ppm) 100, 300, and 500 within erlenmeyer 300 ml, for 48 hours at 30°C. In this research, cyanide artificial (KCN) was presented in liquid media. Analysis of cyanide concentration on liquid medium was done by Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) method. From the research, it was found that the cyanide removal was 50%, 55%, 53% for cyanide pH variation 5, 7, 9, respectively. In pH 7 was obtained a cyanide removal result of 55% and while for concentration (ppm) 100, 300, 500 each resulted in allowance of 45%, 57% 60%. The higher removal 60% is established at concentration of 500 ppm and pH 7. It could be concluded that mixed culture Thiobacillus sp. and Clostridium sp. could be an alternative to remove cyanide from contaminated water until concentration of 500 ppm with removal percentage of 60%.