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Hydrometallurgy

Cyanide Solution Preparation Calculator

This calculator estimates the sodium cyanide (NaCN) mass required to make up a target solution concentration, and — if a stock solution is used — the stock volume and dilution water needed to reach that target. It works purely as an industrial hydrometallurgy mass balance: target concentration × volume gives the pure NaCN equivalent, adjusted for commercial purity. It is strictly a preliminary mass-balance estimate. It is NOT a cyanide safety procedure and NOT a handling, storage, mixing, or dosing procedure. Cyanide is acutely hazardous: preparation must follow the site cyanide management system, the SDS, legal requirements, environmental controls, and qualified professional review.

TypeInteractive engineering calculator

Calculator

g/L

as NaCN equivalent

m³

volume of solution to prepare

Optional

g/L

for stock dilution — must exceed target

%

commercial product purity (default 98%)

Result
Final solution volume10000 L
Pure NaCN equivalent20 kg
Commercial NaCN mass20.4082 kg
Stock solution volume1 m³
Dilution water9 m³
  • !Preliminary mass-balance estimate only — this is NOT a cyanide safety, handling, storage, mixing, or dosing procedure. Follow the site cyanide management system, the SDS, legal requirements, environmental controls, and qualified review.

Formulas

Final solution volume
V_L = V_m³ × 1000
Pure NaCN equivalent
m_pure = C_target × V_L / 1000
Commercial NaCN mass
m_comm = m_pure / (purity / 100)
Stock solution volume
V_stock,L = C_target × V_L / C_stock
Dilution water
V_water,m³ = V_m³ − V_stock,m³

Diagram

NaCN mass = target concentration × final volume ÷ purityC_target × Vfinal solutionm_NaCN = C × V ÷ puritymass balance only — NOT a safety procedure

Worked example

Prepare 10 m³ of solution at a target of 2.0 g/L NaCN equivalent from a 20 g/L stock solution, using commercial NaCN at 98% purity.

  1. 01Final solution volume: 10 × 1000 = 10,000 L
  2. 02Pure NaCN equivalent: 2.0 × 10,000 / 1000 = 20.00 kg
  3. 03Commercial NaCN mass: 20.00 / (98 / 100) = 20.41 kg
  4. 04Stock solution volume: 2.0 × 10,000 / 20 = 1000 L = 1.00 m³
  5. 05Dilution water: 10 − 1.00 = 9.00 m³
Result

Final volume 10,000 L, pure NaCN 20.00 kg, commercial NaCN 20.41 kg, stock volume 1.00 m³, dilution water 9.00 m³.

FAQ

Is this a cyanide handling or safety procedure?
No. It is strictly a preliminary mass-balance estimate. Cyanide is acutely hazardous and its preparation, handling, storage, and dosing must follow the site cyanide management system, the SDS, legal requirements, environmental controls, and qualified professional review.
What does "NaCN equivalent" mean here?
The target concentration is expressed as the equivalent mass of sodium cyanide per litre. The calculator does not model free-cyanide speciation, WAD cyanide, pH effects, or metal complexation — those require dedicated analysis.
How is commercial purity handled?
The pure NaCN equivalent is divided by the purity fraction to give the commercial (as-delivered) mass. At 98% purity, 20.00 kg of pure equivalent corresponds to about 20.41 kg of commercial product.
When do I need the stock-solution inputs?
Only if you are diluting an existing stock solution to the target. The calculator then estimates the stock volume and the dilution water; if the stock concentration is not higher than the target, dilution is not physically meaningful.

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