Date of Award

8-2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Earth and Environmental Sciences

Department

Chemistry and Biochemistry

First Reader/Committee Chair

Stanley, Brett

Abstract

Fresh water treatment and conservation is of great importance in a society with a growing population. Ensuring water safety is a crucial task for water treatment plants. Advances in science and technology have allowed for the testing and study of potentially harmful side substances produced by water sanitation methods, one of those substances is cyanide (-CN). Previous research correlated a significant increase of cyanide levels in effluent water sanitized with a chlorination method. Research has also proposed a mechanism for the formation of cyanogen chloride (CNCl) from reactions with amino acids during the chlorination process. Flow injection analysis was chosen to determine if detectable levels of cyanide are produced from reaction of varying sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and the amino acid glycine (NH2‐CH2‐COOH) concentrations. The samples mimic common sanitation practices in wastewater treatment plants, with the absence of any substances that may interfere with the primary reaction being studied. Reagent concentration, mixing ratios, pH preservation and reaction time are among the various variables used to ascertain conditions optimal for cyanide generation. The observed laboratory trend indicates elevated cyanide production from samples that had molar equivalent sodium hypochlorite, no high pH preservation, and larger overall reagent concentration.

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