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Methods: Advantages Disadvantages

This document compares and contrasts several methods for detecting cyanide including microbial biosensors, ion selective electrodes, fluorometry, colorimetry, high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, and gas chromatography. Each method has advantages such as low cost, simplicity, or sensitivity, but also has disadvantages like limited lifetime, required sample preparation, or expense. Patented technologies utilize one or a combination of these methods for continuous real-time cyanide detection in water, with an emphasis on portable field devices with minimal sample treatment needs and electronic detection capabilities.

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Paul Madrideo
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30 views

Methods: Advantages Disadvantages

This document compares and contrasts several methods for detecting cyanide including microbial biosensors, ion selective electrodes, fluorometry, colorimetry, high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, and gas chromatography. Each method has advantages such as low cost, simplicity, or sensitivity, but also has disadvantages like limited lifetime, required sample preparation, or expense. Patented technologies utilize one or a combination of these methods for continuous real-time cyanide detection in water, with an emphasis on portable field devices with minimal sample treatment needs and electronic detection capabilities.

Uploaded by

Paul Madrideo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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METHODS ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Microbial Biosensors - inexpensive - samples easily affected


Use of microbial cells or - simple to operate by nutrients
enzymes to convert cyanide - products are non-toxic - limited life time of
into by-products. The - fast processing time electrode
electrochemical signal - no interference - sample preparation may
produced be required
by the cyanide by-products
correlates with original
cyanide concentration.
Ion Selective Electrodes - does not require - electrode loses
Ion Selective Electrodes (ISE) extensive sample sensitivity with use
are membrane electrodes preparation - requires frequent
that respond selectively to - inexpensive recalibration
ions in the presence of - equipment is - results vary with
others. The voltage is durable in field temperature
theoretically dependent on settings - iodide levels in seawater
the logarithm of the ionic -does not require distillation will cause interference
activity, according to the - prone to interference
Nernst equation. from other ions
-it is very matrix sensitive
Fluorometric - reduced - sample preparation by
Fluorescence spectroscopy or interference microdiffusion required
fluorometry is a type of - high sensitivity - impurities may diminish
spectroscopy used for fluorescence
analyzing compounds that - interference potential
have the ability to fluoresce. still exists without a
Generally, this fluorescence preseparation mechanism
is directly proportional to the .e.g. chromatography
concentration of the material
in question.
Colorimetric - rapid detection - interference from
Colorimetry is a method to - cost effective thiosulfate ions
measure the concentration - sample preparation
of a known constituent of a often required
solution by comparison
-requires distillation and
With colors of standard
have many interferences,
solutions of that constituent.
including difficulty with high-
pH solutions, oxidizers, and
sulfur bearing compounds.
High Performance Liquid - gold standard - may require
Chromatography/Mass analytical technique derivatization (sample
Spectrometry (HPLC-MS) for quantitative pre-treatment) of
The combination of a mass analysis of complex analyte of interest (i.e.
spectrometer and a liquid biological and cyanide metabolites)
chromatograph makes a environmental -possibly expensive
powerful tool for the samples -not field deployable
detection of trace quantities - high sensitivity
of non-volatile compounds. - may be most
suitable to
investigating
metabolites of
cyanide exposure
- potential of
detecting evidence
of earlier cyanide
exposure
Gas Chromatography (GC) - very sensitive and - possibly expensive
selective - machines may not be
available in source
countries
- needs expertise to
run and maintain
instrument

Patented technologies that uses one or combination of the above methods:


1. US PATENT NO. 6,001,240 ELECTRO CHEMICAL DETECTION OF HYDROGEN
CYANIDE
2. US PATENT NO. 3,629,089 FREE AND COMBINED CYANIDE MEASURNG
APPARATUS.
3. US PATENT NO. 3,859,191 HYDROGEN CYANIDE SENSING CELL
4. US PATENT NO. 4,814,060 ION SELECTIVE ELECTRODES AND MAKING OF
SUCH ELECTRODES
5. US PATENT NO. 7,186,379 B2 CONTINUOS REAL-TIME MEASUREMENT OF
AQUEOUS CYANIDE
6. US PATENT NO. 8,460,538 B2 METHOD OF DETECTING CYANIDE IN
WATER
7. US PATENT NO. 8,741,658 B2 RAPID METHOD TO MEASURE CYANIDE IN
BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES
8. US PUBLICATION NO. US 208/0280372 A1 CONTINUOUS MONITOR FOR
CYANIDE AND CYANOGEN BLOOD AGENT DETECTION IN WATER
9. INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION NUMBER W0 2007/028080 A1
COLORIMETRIC DETECTION OF CYANIDE WITH A CHROMOGENIC OXAZINE

Criteria for effective cyanide detection test:


1. Sufficient sensitivity and selectivity in detecting low quantities of cyanide in
a water sample.
2. A device that is field deployable or portable.
3. Does not require tremendous preparation of sample treatment.
4. Emphasis is more on the electronics aspect of detection and not on
chemistry side.

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