A recent study on evidence from nine landfill sites in northen China (Ya, Weishi, Qifei, Yuqiang, et al., 2022) reveals the risk of Cyanide residue degradation in CRMs and its long-term evolution, providing theoretical support for site management and risk control.
According to the Authors, Cyanide residues weighing many millions of tonnes are disposed of in cyanide residue landfills (CRMs) worldwide. The degradation characteristics of cyanide in closed dumps may have been overestimated, leading to an underestimation of the long-term risk of cyanide residue dumps. The samples analysed in the study show that there is no significant reduction in overall concentrations compared to the pre-closure period. In the long term, these concentrations may exceed permitted limits, leading to a risk of groundwater contamination.
