BEHAVIOR OF FERROCYANIDE AND CYANIDE IN RELATION TO DEICING SALT RUNOFF (ABRIDGMENT)

In runoff from highway deicing salt, sodium ferrocyanide is partially decomposed by sunlight, and cyanide ion is liberated. Sunlight causes partial decomposition of sodium ferrocyanide, in runoff from highway deicing salt, and the liberation of cyanide ion. Rate of ferrocyanide breakdown depends on incident solar energy, ferrocyanide concentration, and water depth and clarity. In shallow solutions exposed to direct sunlight, ferrocyanide breakdown is rapid, but cyanide escape from solution is also accelerated; in deeper solutions, ferrocyanide breakdown to release cyanide is slowed by light reflection and by water turbidity. When generated, cyanide is transferred into the atmosphere as hydrogen cyanide gas at a rate accelerated by wind, water turbulence, and higher water temperature. Present levels of ferrocyanide treatment of highway deicing salt do not appear to present imminent dangers of fish mortality or of atmospheric pollution. /Author/

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/576/576-006.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=BEHAVIOR+OF+FERROCYANIDE+AND+CYANIDE+IN+RELATION+TO+DEICING+SALT+RUNOFF+(ABRIDGMENT)&author=E.+Kuhajek&author=H.+Fiedelman&publication_year=1976
• Availability:
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Winter Maintenance. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Kuhajek, E J
  • Fiedelman, H W
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Pagination: p 33
• Monograph Title: Pavement and Bridge Icing
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 576
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pollution; Cyanides; Deicing chemicals; Environmental impacts; Fishes; Runoff; Sodium compounds; Solar energy; Sunlight; Temperature; Water; Wind
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00139580
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309024900
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 6 1976 12:00AM