The electrocoagulation process (ECP) was investigated for the removal of cyanide from wastewater in batch and continuous operation under different conditions. The batch experiments indicated that an iron-aluminum electrode arrangement as anode-cathode attained the highest removal efficiency. The increase of the current densities of 2 to 15 mA/cm(2) resulted in an increase of cyanide removal from 43% to 91.8% after 20 min of reaction in the absence of aeration. Under similar conditions, aeration of the reactor enhanced removal efficiencies from 45% to 98%. Continuous operation of the ECP reactor with various hydraulic retention times (HRT) led to an increase of cyanide removal from 57% at an HRT of 15 min to complete elimination at an HRT of 140 min. Thus, we conclude that electrocoagulation is a cost-effective promising process for efficient treatment of cyanide-laden wastewater. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.