Cyanide determination in biological fluids using a microdiffusion method with a flow system and polarographic detection

Abstract

The report describes a method for the automated polarographic determination of cyanide as tetracyanonickelate(II) anion complex in a gas-diffusion flow system. The volatile cyanide, existing in whole blood, plasma and urine samples, was measured after gas-diffusion using 8 × 10^–5 mol l^–1 hexaaminenickel solution as acceptor. The linear range of calibration, for measurements at the hanging mercury-drop electrode (HMDE), was from 0.1 to 2.0 µg cyanide with r = 0.998. The RSD was, respectively, 3.4 and 1.2% (n = 5) for 0.4 µg cyanide measured with and without the flow-system configuration. Detection limits of 7.4 µg l^–1 were calculated using the flow system and the method was compared with the classical method using Cavet flasks. Parameters that affect the cyanide determination in the proposed method, such as acceptor solution, pH, flow rate and temperature, were investigated.

References

1. M. B. Jacobs, in The Analytical Toxicology of Industrial Inorganic Poisons, Interscience, New York, 1967, vol. 22, p. 721.
2. M. S. Upadhyay and V. K. Gupta, Analyst, 1984, 109, 1619.
3. J. Epstein, Anal. Chem., 1947, 19, 272.
4. R. L. Moran, G. E. Isom and J. L. Way, Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 1979, 50, 323.
5. S. Baar, Analyst, 1966, 91, 268.
6. J. J. Rosentreter and R. K. Skogerboe, Anal. Chem., 1991, 63, 682.
7. P. McCarthy and R. W. Klusman, Anal. Chem., 1993, 65, 244R.
8. P. McCarthy, R. W. Klusman and S. W. Cowling, Anal. Chem., 1991, 63, 301R.
9. P. McCarthy, R. W. Klusman and J. A. Rice, Anal. Chem., 1989, 61, 269R.
10. C. Pohlandt and M. J. Hemmings, S. Afr. J. Chem., 1988, 41, 136.
11. C. Pohlandt, S. Afr. J. Chem., 1984, 37, 133.
12. P. Sillinger, Plating Surf. Finishing, 1985, 72, 82.
13. M. W. Scoggings, Anal. Chem., 1970, 42, 301.
14. M. W. Scoggings, Anal. Chem., 1972, 44, 1294.
15. G. Schwedt and P. C. do Nascimento, Anal. Chim. Acta., 1993, 282, 755.
16. P. C. do Nascimento, D. Bohrer and J. Tramontina, Analyst, 1997, 122, 835.
17. E. E. Archer, Analyst, 1958, 83, 571.
18. H. B. Mark, Jr. and C. N. Reilley, Anal. Chem., 1963, 35, 195.
19. H. B. Mark, Jr. and C. N. Reilley, J. Electroanal. Chem., 1962, 4, 189.
20. H. B. Mark, Jr., Anal. Chem., 1964, 36, 940.
21. H. B. Mark, Jr., J. Electroanal. Chem., 1964, 7, 276.
22. J. M. L. Fonseca and D. Fojón, Anal. Chim. Acta., 1990, 230, 97.
23. C. Giovedi and V. Tokoro, J. Braz. Chem. Soc., 1997, 8, 187.
24. A. S. Perez and V. De Frutos, Anal. Chim. Acta., 1995, 317, 319.
25. J. A. Nóbrega, M. D. Capelato and R. Gama, J. Braz. Chem. Soc., 1994, 5, 91.
26. C. J. Vesey and J. Wilson, J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 1978, 30, 20.
27. H. J. Gibitz and M. Geldmacher, Klinisch-toxikologische Analytik bei akuten Vergiftungen und Drogenmissbrauch, VCH, New York, 1989, p. 196.
28. J. C. Valentour, V. Aggarwal and I. Sunshine, Anal. Chem., 1974, 46, 924.
29. R. W. Darr, T. L. Capson and F. D. Hileman, Anal. Chem., 1980, 52, 1379.
30. F. McAuley and D. S. Reive, J. Anal. Toxicol., 1983, 7, 214.
31. J. Zamecnick and J. Tam, J. Anal. Toxicol., 1987, 11, 47.