Removal and recovery of metal cyanides using a combination of biosorption and biodegradation processes

Cladosporium cladosporioides biomass was a highly efficient biosorbent of c opper cyanide and nickel cyanide from aqueous solutions. A 32-38 fold conce ntration of initial 0.5 mM metal cyanides could be achieved when biosorptio n process was carried out under standardised conditions. Residual, unrecove rable metal cyanide could be completely biodegraded in 5-6 h. The solution treated with the combined biosorption-biodegradation process was fit for di scharge in the environment.