Modified sulfuric acid and uses thereof
A modified aqueous acid composition comprising: sulfuric acid; a compound comprising an amine moiety and a sulfonic acid moiety; and a peroxide; wherein sulfuric acid, said compound comprising an amine moiety and a sulfonic acid moiety and said peroxide are present in a molar ratio of no less than 1:1:1. Also disclosed are methods of using such compositions for the decomposition of toxic chemicals such as cyanides.
1. A method for the destruction of cyanide present in waste water, said method comprising:
providing said waste water;
exposing said waste water to a composition comprising:
sulfuric acid present in an amount ranging from 20 to 80 wt % of said composition;
a compound comprising an amine moiety and a sulfonic acid moiety selected from the group consisting of taurine and taurine derivatives; and
a peroxide;
for a period of time sufficient to degrade at least 80% of said cyanide present into non-cyanide containing compounds;
wherein said taurine derivatives are selected from the group consisting of: taurolidine; taurocholic acid; tauroselcholic acid; tauromustine; 5-taurinomethyluridine; 5-taurinomethyl-2-thiouridine; homotaurine (tramiprosate); acamprosate; taurates; and aminoalkylsulfonic acids where the alkyl is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 5 linear alkyl and C 1 -C 5 branched alkyl.
2. The method according to claim 1 , where said compound comprising an amine moiety and a sulfonic acid moiety is taurine.
3. The method according to claim 1 , where said sulfuric acid and said compound comprising an amine moiety and a sulfonic acid moiety are present in a molar ratio of no less than 3:1.
4. The method according to claim 1 , where the peroxide is hydrogen peroxide.
5. The method according to claim 1 , where said period of time is sufficient to degrade at least 90% of said cyanide present into non-cyanide containing compounds.
6. The method according to claim 1 , where said method is carried out under atmospheric pressure.
7. The method according to claim 1 , where said method is carried out under ambient temperature.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the waste water is a result of heap leaching or vat leaching.