Water and Wastewater Terms Beginning C

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

cyanide

The cyanide ion (CN^–) consists of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). Cyanide is commonly found in metal plating wastewaters because most metal cyanides are soluble and plating occurs readily from cyanide solutions. The cyanide ion is extremely toxic and must be removed from metal wastes before discharge to the environment. Treatment of wastes containing cyanide under acidic conditions may produce extremely toxic gases that must never come in contact with people or animals.