CEN/TS 16229:2011

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-februar-2012
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XVHGDOQLNRY
Characterization of waste - Sampling and analysis of weak acid dissociable cyanide
discharged into tailings ponds
Charakterisierung von Abfällen - Probenahme und Analyse von mit schwachen Säuren
freisetzbare Cyanide bei der Einleitung in Absetzteiche
Caractérisation des déchets - Échantillonnage et analyse des cyanures à acide faible
dissociable déversés dans des bassins à stériles
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN/TS 16229:2011
ICS:
13.030.01 Odpadki na splošno Wastes in general
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
CEN/TS 16229
SPÉCIFICATION TECHNIQUE
TECHNISCHE SPEZIFIKATION
June 2011
ICS 13.030.40
English Version
Characterization of waste - Sampling and analysis of weak acid
dissociable cyanide discharged into tailings ponds
Caractérisation des déchets - Échantillonnage et analyse Charakterisierung von Abfällen - Probenahme und Analyse
des cyanures à acide faible dissociable déversés dans des von mit schwachen Säuren freisetzbare Cyaniden bei der
bassins à stériles Einleitung in Absetzteiche
This Technical Specification (CEN/TS) was approved by CEN on 14 May 2011 for provisional application.

The period of validity of this CEN/TS is limited initially to three years. After two years the members of CEN will be requested to submit their
comments, particularly on the question whether the CEN/TS can be converted into a European Standard.

CEN members are required to announce the existence of this CEN/TS in the same way as for an EN and to make the CEN/TS available
promptly at national level in an appropriate form. It is permissible to keep conflicting national standards in force (in parallel to the CEN/TS)
until the final decision about the possible conversion of the CEN/TS into an EN is reached.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2011 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN/TS 16229:2011: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
Foreword .3
Introduction .4
1 Scope .5
2 Normative references .5
3 Terms and definitions .5
4 Safety procedures.6
5 Apparatus and reagents .6
5.1 Apparatus .6
5.2 Reagents .6
6 Sampling procedures .6
6.1 General .6
6.2 Sampling plan .7
6.3 Choice of the sampling location .7
6.3.1 General .7
6.3.2 Slurry sampling at the pipeline .7
6.3.3 Slurry sampling at the destruction tank .7
6.4 Sample handling in field .7
6.5 Documentation .8
7 Sample pretreatment .8
7.1 pH - check .8
7.2 Filtration .8
7.3 Removal of oxidizing matter and sulfides .8
7.4 Composite samples .8
8 Analytical step .9
8.1 General .9
8.2 Analytical procedure .9
9 Test report .9
Bibliography . 10
Foreword
This document (CEN/TS 16229:2011) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 292
“Characterization of waste”, the secretariat of which is held by NEN.
This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the
European Free Trade Association, (Mandate M/395), which assigned the development of standards on the
characterization of waste from extractive industries
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to announce this Technical Specification: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom
Introduction
As gold typically occurs at very low concentrations it is often extracted from the ore using a cyanide leaching
process. The waste from which the gold was removed is referred to as residue or tailings material. Tailings,
usually slurry, are pumped to a pond after treatment with for example hydrogen peroxide or sulfur dioxide to
destroy cyanides.
In “Directive 2006/21/EC on the management of waste from extractive industries” [1] the following is
addressed in Article 13; no.6:
In the case of a pond involving the presence of cyanide, the operator shall ensure that the concentration of
weak acid dissociable cyanide in the pond is reduced to the lowest possible level using best available
techniques and, in any case, at waste facilities which have previously been granted a permit or have already
been in operation on 1 May 2008 that the concentration of weak acid dissociable cyanide at the point of
discharge of the tailings from the processing plant into the pond does not exceed 50 ppm as from 1 May 2008,
25 ppm as from 1 May 2013, 10 ppm as from 1 May 2018 and 10 ppm at waste facilities which are granted a
permit after 1 May 2008.
Methods for sampling and analysis have been selected to ensure the aim of this directive. Methods described
here are either EN or ISO standards with consideration of the Cyanide Code [2].
1 Scope
This CEN Technical Specification specifies methods for sampling and analysis of weak acid dissociable
cyanide discharged into tailings ponds.
NOTE The document can be used to support the requirements in the Directive 2006/21/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 on the management of waste from extractive industries.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 14899, Characterization of waste – Sampling of waste materials – Framework for the preparation and
application of a Sampling Plan
EN ISO 14403, Water quality – Determination of total cyanide and free cyanide by continuous flow analysis
(ISO 14403:2002)
ISO 6703-2, Water quality – Determination of cyanide – Part 2: Determination of easily liberatable cyanide
3 Terms and definitions
3.1
tailings pond
engineered facility for managing tailings resulting from ore processing and for clearing and recycling of
process water
NOTE Tailings ponds are most of the times formed by a dam construction. They mainly contain tailings along with
varying amounts of free water [3].
3.2
cyanide
chemical compound that contains the cyano group (C≡N), occurs either as free cyanide or bound to a metal in
complex form
NOTE Free cyanide is very toxic.
3.3
weak acid dissociable (WAD) cyanide
cyanide from substances with cyanide groups and a measurable hydrocyanic acid vapour pressure at pH = 4
and room temperature.
[ISO 6703-2]
NOTE 1 Such substances include all cyanides which will undergo chlorination, especially hydrocyanic acid, alkali- and
alkali earth metal cyanides, and complex cyanides of zinc, cadmium, silver, copper and nickel. Complex cyanides of iron
and cobalt, nitriles, cyanates, thiocyanates and cyanogen chloride are not included
NOTE 2 Weak acid dissociable cyanide is also referred to as “easily liberatable cyanide”.
4 Safety procedures
Attention is drawn to the toxicity of cyanide and to the need to take extreme care when handling cyanides and
their solutions. Safety precautions such as safety glasses, gloves and protective clothing must be rigorously
observed.
Carry out all operations regarding sample pretreatment and analysis in a fume cupboard. Avoid contact with
the skin and eyes. When pipetting, always use a safety pipette (pipette by bulb). Always measure pH before
sample handling. If pH < 10, add a small amount of sodium hydroxide solution and measure again to ensure
pH ≥ 10. If necessary, add more sodium hydroxide solution.
Detoxify samples and solutions containing cyanides or heavy metals in accordance with local official
regulations.
5 Apparatus and reagents
5.1 Apparatus
5.1.1 Clean sampling vessel, with a volume of 0,5 l to 1 l, made of plastic (e.g. polyethylene) or metal,
preferably with wide neck and a screw cap
5.1.2 Separating funnel, either filter funnel or Büchner type funnel
5.1.3 Filter made of e.g.cellulose (preferably wet-strengthened) or glass fiber, plain, pore size 5 µm to 10 µm
5.1.4 Filter made of e.g. cellulose acetate, pore size 0,45 µm
5.1.5 pH meter, with a glass electrode
5.2 Reagents
5.2.1 Sodium hydroxide, solution, c(NaOH) = 5 mol/l
5.2.2 Lead acetate test paper
5.2.3 Potassium iodide/starch test papers
5.2.4 Sodium arsenite (NaAsO )
5.2.5 Lead carbonate (PbCO ) or lead nitrate (Pb(NO ) ) powder
3 3 2
6 Sampling procedures
6.1 General
Before setting up a sampling plan, check what the purpose of sampling and analysis will be. The results
obtained should reflect the actual situation. The place of sampling has to be chosen that it is representative for
the effluents (tailings) pumped to the pond. In addition, the number of individual samples per time period has
to be chosen according to the constancy of operation. With a steady state operation of the plant, fewer
samples per time unit are required, with intermittent or batch wise operations more samples are needed. It has
to be ensured that the limit values set by the directive or national authorities are met with the sampling and
consequent analysis scheme.
6.2 Sampling plan
Prepare a sampling plan according to EN 14889. This sampling plan shall specify at least:
 place of sampling;
 method of sampling;
 number of samples per time period (e.g. day);
 minimum sample size;
 use of individual or composite samples for an
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