Characterization and pH stability of insoluble products of the reaction between cyanide and ferrous sulphate

X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR) spectroscopy and⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer effect spectroscopy were used to characterize and monitor the pH stability of cyanide and ferrous sulphate reaction mixtures. Limited information was obtained from the XRD and IR measurements because of the amorphous nature of the samples. The Mössbauer studies show that considerable changes occur when there is an increase in pH at which the sample is prepared. Prussian-blue type compounds and iron oxide in the form of small particles crystallize out at low and high pH values, while additional complexes are formed at intermediate pH values of 6 to 9.⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer effect spectroscopy is thus a powerful technique for monitoring the environmental stability of cyanide waste streams that result when modern methods of extractive metallurgy of gold are employed on mineral ores.