Semi-Quantitative “Spot-test” of Cyanide

A selective, sensitive, rapid and simple-handling analytical method for the determination of cyanide at low detection limits in surface and underground water, soil and industrial waste samples was developed. The method is based on a reaction, proposed by Guilbault and Kramer, where free cyanide reacts with p-nitrobenzaldehyde to form an intermediate cyanohydrin, which reacts with o-dinitrobenzene to give a highly colored purple compound. The original procedure was modified for application in a small device containing a gas-permeable membrane. The cyanide is converted in the volatile hydrogen cyanide, which permeates through a PTFE membrane, reaching colorimetric reagents. In order to obtain semi-quantitative results, printed color scales were built. The method allows rapid, accurate, selective, low-cost and simple-handling determinations of free cyanide, even in complex samples. About 150 real samples were analyzed. Less than 10 ng of free cyanide per ml (10 µg l–1) can be easily detected. For more concentrated solutions, the results had been compared to those obtained using differential pulse polarography. The standard addition method was used for more diluted solutions.