Biodegradation of coke-oven effluent rich in phenols and cyanides

The importance of coal carbonising industries from India’s national point of view is great and also growing. With growth and development we are also paying the penalty of degradation of our natural resources. Growth and development cannot be stopped hence we have to opt for other methods and explore for new and sustainable technologies for elimination of the toxic substances from the environment. In coke ovens, naturally found coal is converted into coke, which is suitable for use in metallurgical industries, especially in iron and steel for blast furnace. The top industries in this respect are iron and steel industries, which are also used to evaluate the growth index of a country. Coke-oven effluent is one of the most dangerous waste water released by industries such as steel plants into the environment. The effluent is rich in extremely harmful toxic substances such as phenols and cyanides. Developing countries like India cannot afford to reduce the steel production. Hence there is an urgent need to treat the hazardous coke-oven effluent and to simultaneously remediate the environment where it is dumped constantly.