Improved gas chromatography with electron-capture detection using a reaction pre-column for the determination of blood cyanide: a higher content in the left ventricle of fire victims

We developed a head-space method for the determination of blood cyanide by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection. In this technique, a reaction pre-column, packed with chloramine-T, was used for the conversion of hydrogen cyanide into cyanogen chloride. Since the reaction pre-column eliminated the necessity for trapping hydrogen cyanide from the biological samples, blood cyanide was quickly analysed by acidification only. The reaction pre-column was durable for at least several months. The calibration curve gave good linearity when dichloromethane was used as the internal standard, and the lower detection limit taken from this plot was ca. 0.05 micrograms/ml. The relative standard deviation of spiked blood samples was in the range 0.6-3.9%. We determined blood cyanide levels at autopsy in victims who had died from fire using this method. A significantly higher cyanide content was detected in the left ventricular blood than in the right. There was a positive correlation between blood cyanide and carboxylhaemoglobin contents. This simple and sensitive technique could be very useful for the determination of cyanide in various samples.     

Vapor and liquid phase detection of cyanide on a microchip

A capillary electrophoresis microchip is used to selectively and sensitively monitor cyanide levels in both vapor (HCN((g))) and aqueous (NaCN in drinking water) phases. Laser-induced fluorescence detection is applied using a violet diode laser to monitor the fluorescent isoindole derivative formed by the reaction of cyanide with 2,3-naphthalenedicarboxaldehyde (NDA) and taurine. Air sampling of hydrogen cyanide is achieved using a miniature impinger (2 mL), giving collection efficiencies as high as 79% for a sampling rate of 1.0 L/min and a 10 s sampling time (relative standard deviation RSD: 2.7% for n = 5). Following the addition of NDA and taurine to either the vapor phase impinger sample or an aqueous drinking water sample, the NDA/cyanide derivative can be detected in just over 40 s on the microchip, giving a detection limit of 0.56 microg/L and a linear dynamic range from 0.56 microg/L-2.4 mg/L. The detection limit for hydrogen cyanide in air was determined to be 2.3 ppb (mole%). On-chip derivatization of cyanide by NDA was successful, although a 50% decrease in signal intensity was observed due to insufficient time for completion of the reaction on the microchip. A number of different interferents were examined, and only iron(II) and chlorine showed any interference due to their capability for masking the presence of cyanide by reacting with free cyanide in solution.     

Simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of cyanide and thiocyanate after separation on a melamine-formaldehyde resin

A simple indirect spectrophotometric method for the determination of cyanide, based on the oxidation of the cyanide with chlorine (Cl(2)) is described. The residual chlorine is determined by the color reaction with o-tolidine (3,3'-dimethylbenzidine). The maximum absorbance for Cl(2) is at 437 nm. A linear calibration graph (0-4.0x10(-5) M CN(-)) is obtained under optimal reaction conditions at room temperature and pH 11-12. The stoichiometric mole ratio of chlorine to cyanide is 1:1. The effective molar absorptivity for cyanide is 5.87x10(4) l mol(-1) cm(-1) at pH 1.6. The limit of quantification (LOQ) is 3.6x10(-7) M or 9.4 ppb. Effects of pH, excess reagent, sensitivity, reaction time and tolerance limits of interferent ions are reported. The method was applied to the determination of cyanide in a real sample. The basic interferent usually accompanying CN(-), i.e. thiocyanate, is separated from cyanide by sorption on a melamine-formaldehyde resin at pH 9 while cyanide is not retained. Thiocyanate is eluted with 0.4 M NaOH from the column and determined spectrophotometrically using the acidic FeCl(3) reagent. The initial column effluent containing cyanide was analyzed by both the developed chlorine-o-tolidine method and the conventional barbituric acid-pyridine (Spectroquant 14800) procedure, and the results were statistically compared. The developed method is relatively inexpensive and less laborious than the standard (Spectroquant) procedure, and insensitive to the common interferent, cyanate (CNO(-)).     

The benzil-cyanide reaction and its application to the development of a selective cyanide anion indicator

The benzil-cyanide reaction is a cyanide-specific reaction that has been exploited to produce a colorimetric indicator for this toxic anion. This was done by producing a pi-extended analogue of benzil, 7, which is soluble in a 70:30 (v/v) mixture of methanol-water. In this medium, dilute solutions of 7 are yellow but produce colorless products when exposed to low concentrations of cyanide anion (> or = 1.7 microM; added as an aqueous NaCN solution), but no other common anions (e.g., OH(-), F(-), N3(-), benzoate(-), and H2PO4(-)). On the basis of these observations and supporting mechanistic analyses, it is concluded that the modified benzil system 7 is a promising cyanide anion indicator that is attractive in terms of its selectivity, ease-of-use, water compatibility, and the low, naked-eye discernible cyanide detection limit it provides.     

Colorimetric detection of cyanide with a chromogenic oxazine

[reaction: see text] We have designed a chromogenic oxazine for the colorimetric detection of cyanide. Indeed, the [1,3]oxazine ring of our compound opens to form a 4-nitrophenylazophenolate chromophore in response to cyanide. This quantitative chromogenic transformation permits the detection of micromolar concentrations of cyanide in water. Furthermore, our chromogenic oxazine is insensitive to the presence of large concentrations of fluoride, chloride, bromide, or iodide anions, which are generally the principal interferents in the colorimetric detection of cyanide.     

An investigation into causes and effects of high cyanide levels in the palladium-catalyzed cyanation reaction

[reaction: see text] The palladium-catalyzed cyanation reaction is known to be sensitive to dissolved cyanide. Investigation into some causes of high levels of dissolved cyanide is presented here, along with a robust solution to this problem.     

Determination of cyanide using a microbial sensor

A microbial cyanide sensor was prepared, consisting of immobilizedSaccharomyces cerevisiae and an oxygen electrode. When the electrode was inserted into a solution containing glucose, the respiration activity of the microorganisms increased. The change in the respiration activity is monitored with the oxygen electrode. When cyanide is added to the sample solution, the electron transport chain reaction of the respiration system in the mitochondria is inhibited, resulting in a decrease in respiration. The inhibition is caused by cyanide binding with respiration enzymes such as the cytochrome oxidase complex in the mitochondrial inner membrane. Therefore, the cyanide concentration can be measured from the change in the respiration rate. When the sensor was applied to a batch system at pH 8.0 and 30°C, the cyanide calibration curve showed linearity in the concentration range between 0.3 μM and 150 μM CN-.     

Determination of cyanide by an indirect spectrophotometric method using 5-Br-PADAP

Complexation of Ni(2+) with cyanide inhibits its colour reaction with 5-Br-PADAP and this reaction is used in the spectrophotometric determination of cyanide at the ug level. Cyanide in industrial waste waters is determined after an initial transfer as hydrogen cyanide from the sample into sodium hydroxide solution with a stream of air.     

Anodic oxidation of cyanide and cyanate ions on a platinum electrode

The oxidation processes of cyanide and cyanate ions on a Pt electrode in aqueous and methanol solutions were studied by infrared spectroscopy. In aqueous solution, the cyanide ion was oxidized to cyanate and successively to carbon dioxide. The reaction proceeded on an oxidized platinum surface. In methanol solution, HNCO is the main product during anodization.     

Rational design of a highly reactive ratiometric fluorescent probe for cyanide

A novel highly reactive ratiometric fluorescent cyanide probe was judiciously designed based on 2-formylacrylonitrile moiety as a new cyanide reaction site. A DFT study was conducted to rationalize the extremely high reactivity nature of the ratiometric fluorescent cyanide probe.     

Cyanide reaction with ninhydrin: elucidation of reaction and interference mechanisms.

A new sensitive spectrophotometric method has recently been developed for the trace determination of cyanide with ninhydrin. Cyanide ion was supposed to act as a specific base catalyst. Nevertheless, this paper demonstrates that the reported assay is based on a novel reaction of cyanide with 2,2-dihydroxy-1,3-indanedione, which affords purple or blue colored salts of 2-cyano-1,2,3-trihydroxy-2H indene. Hydrindantin is merely an intermediary of the reaction. The formation of a stable and isolable ninhydrin-cyanide compound has been confirmed by its preparation in crystalline form. Also, it is thoroughly characterized by elemental as well as MS, IR, UV/VIS and 1H NMR analyses. The Ruhemann's sequence of reactions of cyanide with ninhydrin has been reconsidered and an adequate mechanism of the reaction is proposed. As a consequence, the interference of oxidizers as well as copper, silver and mercury ions with the cyanide determination has been elucidated.     

Spectrophotometric determination of cyanide with organic disulphides

The reaction of cyanide ion with the disulphides 2,2'-dithiodipyridine, 4,4'-dithiodipyridine, 2,2'-dithiodipyrimidine, and 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) to displace an absorbing thiol anion has been evaluated for the spectrophotometric determination of cyanide. Reaction is somewhat slow and is applicable to cyanide determination in the range 0.2-5.0 mug ml . By variation of reactant ratios and pH the concentration range can be increased to 50 mug ml . The reaction is faster when cyanide is present at a higher concentration than the disulphide.     

Two-mode Fluorescent Detection of Cyanide by a Simple AIE-based Chemosensor with Red Emission

TPE-TCF, a simple TPE-derivative with red-emission was used to detect cyanide in the condition of single dispersion as well as under aggregate state. It could be found that TPE-TCF exhibited excellent fluorescent response to cyanide in both situations, and the mechanism was supposed to be the reaction between cyanide and the double bond in TPE-TCF as well as the aggregation induced emission property of the reacted TPE-TCF molecules. What's more, TPE-TCF could distinguish cyanide with other species, such as common anions and biotiol well, which indicated it as a potential indicator for cyanide with good selectivity and specificity.     

Catalytic effect of copper on the hexacyanoferrate(III)-cyanide redox reaction-I The uncatalysed and catalysed reactions

A kinetic study of the hexacyanoferrate(III)-cyanide redox reaction has been made in connection with development of a new catalytic method for copper. The reaction kinetics change with time from first- to second-order dependence with respect to hexacyanoferrate(III). The reaction is nearly inverse first-order with respect to hexacyanoferrate(II) and first-order with respect to cyanide. The reaction shows a strong positive primary salt effect, but a very small increase in the reaction rate with temperature is found. A parallel reaction proceeds with a first-order dependence with respect to hydroxide. A tentative mechanism is proposed for the first reaction, involving the formation of cyanogen radicals. The second reaction corresponds to the well-known decomposition of hexacyanoferrate(III) in alkaline medium. The catalysed reaction exhibits similar kinetics with respect to hexacyanoferrate(II) and (III) but is zero-order with respect to cyanide and hydroxide and first-order with respect to catalyst. The proposed mechanism involves two consecutive interactions of the hexacyanoferrate(III) with copper(I) and with copper(II) cyanide complexes respectively, followed by a 2-electron oxidation of a co-ordinatively bridging cyanide group.     

A novel and efficient method for the synthesis of α-aminonitriles by the reaction of aminals with trimethylsilyl cyanide catalyzed by iodine

Iodine, was found to be a practical and novel catalyst for the reaction of aminal and trimethylsilyl cyanide under mild and neutral reaction condition to afford the corresponding α-aminonitriles in high yields and short reaction times. Trimethylsilyl iodide derived in situ from elemental iodine and trimethylsillyl cyanide catalyzed this conversion.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the racemic addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide to aldehydes catalysed by Lewis bases

The mechanism by which four Lewis bases, triethylamine, tetrabutylammonium thiocyanate, tetrabutylammonium azide and tetrabutylammonium cyanide, catalyse the addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide to aldehydes is studied by a combination of kinetic and spectroscopic methods. The reactions can exhibit first or second order kinetics corresponding to three different reaction mechanisms. Spectroscopic evidence for the formation of hypervalent silicon species is obtained for reaction between all of the tetrabutylammonium salts and trimethylsilyl cyanide. The reactions are accelerated by the presence of water in the reaction mixture, an effect which is due to a change in the reaction mechanism from Lewis to Br?nsted base catalysis. Tetrabutylammonium thiocyanate is shown to be an excellent catalyst for the synthesis of cyanohydrin trimethylsilyl ethers on a preparative scale.     

Highly selective and sensitive reaction of cyanide with 2,2-dihydroxy-1,3-indanedione

A novel reaction of cyanide with 2,2-dihydroxy-1,3-indanedione in the presence of sodium carbonate is described. It is highly selective and sensitive, and suitable for the determination of hydrogen cyanide in the environment and free cyanide ions in water, blood, urine, serum, etc. As little as 1.25x10(-7) mol x L(-1) CN(-) (3.25x10(-9) g x mL(-1) cyanide) can be determined by use of this reaction. The color system obeys Beer's law in the range 10 ng x mL(-1) to 1.0 microg x mL(-1) at 510 nm. The molar absorptivity was 8.0x10(4) L x mol(-1) x cm(-1) for a solution of concentration 0.2 microg x mL(-1). All other important analytical properties of the reaction have been studied. It is proposed that the purple color produced under these reaction conditions is that of 2-cyano-1,2,3-trihydroxy-2 H indene.     

微孔膜气体扩散分离流动注射光度法测定废水中氰化物

研究了利用吡啶-巴比妥酸显色体系反应的中间产物,采用微孔膜气体扩散分离流动注射分析技术测定工业废水中氰化物,该法具有简便、快速并能消除某些干扰的特点。进样频率为65个样/h,检出限为0.02μg/ml,取氰化物2.5μg/ml时测量的相对标准偏差为0.3％(n=20),测定实际样品结果令人满意。     

Use of an Aqueous Micellar Medium to Improve the Spectrophotometry Determination of Cyanide Ion with 5,5′-Dithiobis(2-Nitrobenzoic Acid)

Abstract

The spectrophotometric method for the determination of cyanide, which is based on the reaction of cyanide ion with 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) to displace the corresponding absorbing thiol anion, has been reinvestigated using an aqueous cetyltrimethylammonium bromide micellar reaction medium. The rate of the analytical reaction is increased considerably in the presence of the cationic surfactant. Thus, the time required for the spectrophotometric determination of cyanide ion in the 0.18 – 2.80 μg/ml range using this procedure is decreased from 25 minutes to 1 – 3 minutes.     

Kinetic determination of formaldehyde and hexamethylenetetramine with a cyanide-selective electrode

An automatic potentiometric reaction-rate method is described for the determination of formaldehyde and hexamethylenetetramine. The formaldehyde reacts with cyanide, and the reaction rate is followed with a cyanide-selective electrode. The time required for the reaction to consume a fixed amount of cyanide, and therefore for the potential to increase by a preselected amount (8.0 mV), is measured automatically and related directly to the formaldehyde concentration. The average error for the determination of 60–300 μg of formaldehyde in a sample volume of 1.00 ml was about 1.3%. Amounts of hexamethyl-enetetramine in the range 50–250 μg in a sample volume of 0–050 ml were determined after acid hydrolysis to formaldehyde with an average error of about 1.6%. Measurement times were in the range 18–80 s for both determinations. The method has been applied to the determination of hexamethylenetetramine in pharmaceutical preparations.