Responsible Care

For more than 100 years we have been dedicated to manufacture, application and further processing of cyanides and has been aware of its responsibility in the handling of this product. Cyanides are chemical compounds which occur in nature. For example, cherry juice or almonds contain cyanide compounds. In very small quantities, as contained in food, cyanides have no toxic effect, as they are completely broken down by enzymes in the body. If the body adsorbs too much cyanide, however, its enzymes can no longer handle the substance. The cyanides block the oxygen supply to the cells, causing suffocation. Physicians refer to this as acute toxicity. Because CyPlus is particularly conscious of the toxicity of cyanide, the company ensures that great care is taken when handling this product. CyPlus handles cyanides in such a way that, as far as humanly possible, hazards to employees, customers, neighbors and the environment in the production, processing, transport, storage and utilization are ruled out.

Cyanides are used to manufacture products which, directly or indirectly, improve quality of life. They serve as building blocks in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, amino acids and pigments. They are also used in the electroplating industry and hardening of metal components, for the automobile industry, for example. The largest application, with more than two-thirds of the world's cyanide consumption, is gold extraction.

Use of cyanides in gold extraction

Gold is extracted from the milled gold ores using sodium cyanide, in what is known as the "leaching process". The process is based on the property of cyanides to selectively form a stable complex with gold at low concentrations. Thus, a very low concentration of about 0.03 to 0.1 percent sodium cyanide, dissolved in water, is sufficient for gold leaching. The leaching of gold ores is generally carried out in specially constructed process plants. In further processing stages, the stable cyanide complex is separated from the leaching solution and, in the final electrolysis stage, the pure gold is extracted.

CyPlus technology has contributed to the optimization of the leaching process, so that the greatest possible gold yield is achieved with the least possible cyanide. These optimized processes are offered to customers as an additional service. Independent of this, the company has also searched for other methods of gold extraction. Comparisons of cyanide with alternatives for gold extraction, such as thiourea or bromine, have not produced satisfactory results. With both these substances, the selectivity is lower despite the use of greater quantities. Therefore CyPlus researchers and external scientists have concluded that, from both an ecological and an economical point of view, these alternatives are no substitute for cyanides.

Product stewardship in the sense of Responsible Care means that possible hazards and risks which might arise from a product should be avoided or reduced wherever possible. This responsibility begins with the manufacture of cyanides. CyPlus produces cyanides in Europe and in the USA. The production sites are subject to the strict environmental regulations which are in force. If it is not possible to feed cyanide effluents back into the cycle, they can be destroyed by a hydrogen peroxide-based process developed by Degussa.

Product stewardship, as understood by both CyPlus and the VCI (Deutsch Chemical Industry Association), extends beyond the manufacturing process. Thus, for the transport of cyanides, very stringent demands are made on the safety of the packaging and the method of transport. All types of packaging employed by Degussa have been approved by the Federal Agency for Material Testing and Research. Wherever logistically possible, recycable packaging is used, thus avoiding disposable containers. The transport companies selected by CyPlus are experienced in the conveyance of toxic substances and dispose of emergency information systems. In Europe and the USA, only drivers who possess special certificates for the transport of hazardous goods are used. In countries where hazardous goods training is not yet required by law, we conduct product-specific briefings which continually improve the standard of training of the drivers.

Because of the "dual use" problem, the sale and export of cyanides is subject to very strict internal control mechanisms, which are set out in the "Corporate Principles governing Internal Export Controls", and external regulations such as the Foreign Trade Act. Any mis-use must be ruled out. From the receipt of a new inquiry the respective customer situation is checked and documented. Here, CyPlus demands information, among other parameters, about the company's activities, the use for the cyanide as well as the country of destination and checks the plausibility of the quantity to be supplied. In cases of doubt, the internal Export Commission can be consulted.

If the company passes this preliminary check, a so-called "End-user Certificate" must be submitted to CyPlus. The potential customer confirms in this that he is using the cyanide exclusively for the purpose indicated and under no circumstances for the manufacture or development of chemical weapons or other military products. He also undertakes not to re-export the cyanide. After the internal export control, CyPlus passes the applications for export approval to the Federal Export Authorities. Only when the Federal Export Authority has granted the export license the cyanides can be exported.

The company also accepts its product responsibility as a manufacturer by training customers in the correct handling of cyanides. It is a quality goal to instruct all customers throughout the world more thoroughly than ever on correct handling, transport and disposal.

Thus, comprehensive training forms the basis for a future worldwide standard for the handling of cyanides. In safety training on site (more than 3000 persons have been trained by the end of 2007), CyPlus considers the individual situation of each customer and prepares with his help a detailed deficiency analysis and an optimization program. Video material and brochures also help customers to repeat the safety training themselves at regular intervals.

Should a customer not cooperate in eliminating any deficiencies found in the cyanide handling procedures, he is excluded from supply.

Detoxification of effluents containing cyanides

The safe handling of cyanides also includes detoxification of residual cyanide, for example in the tailings ponds of gold mines. The most widely-used "detoxification process" continues to be the natural degradation with UV radiation. Here, a large proportion of the cyanide contained in the water is broken down.

Any additional chemical detoxification processes are only employed when natural degradation no longer complies with the recommended cyanide content. Mining companies, however, must reduce the cyanide content to potable water standards in effluents which are discharged into the environment.

With the development of various hydrogen peroxide-based detoxification processes, CyPlus has made a decisive contribution to the mining industry enabling companies to comply with specified effluent standards.

A continual exchange of information between customers and, in particular, the CyPlus applied technology specialists contributes to a further increase in product safety.

The common responsibility of the cyanide manufactures

The world's major manufacturers of cyanides, including CyPlus, have a special sector group in the European Chemical Council CEFIC. The CEFIC acts as a forum with the purpose of defining binding standards for the safe handling of cyanides. In 1995, a first general directive for the safe handling of cyanides was agreed upon by the member companies. This directive contains recommendations for customer selection and handling and storage information. CyPlus fulfills all the requirements of this directive. In 1997, comprehensive guidelines for the handling, storage and distribution of alkalicyanides have been completed. Both documents are helping to raise the worldwide standard for the handling of cyanides even further.

In July 2000 the European cyanide producers who are members of the CEFIC Cyanide Sector Group have established a system of mutual aid to deal with potential emergencies arising during the transportation of cyanides in Europe.