DEVELOPMENT OF A FLOW-INJECTION ANALYSIS SYSTEM UTILIZING PIEZOELECTRIC-CRYSTALS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF CYANIDE EMPLOYING SMALL SAMPLE SIZES

The measurement of cyanide, by an analytical method which can be performed in a routine and timely manner, remains a pressing problem. In our present research, selective reaction chemistry has been used to develop an indirect measurement of cyanide. Cyanide containing samples are reacted with the metallic gold electrode of a piezoelectric crystal. This results in the formation of a soluble dicyano-gold complex. The resulting loss of gold is detected by the piezoelectric crystal as a resonant frequency change. The system has been configured into a flow injection analysis array for simple adaptation to automation. The developed detection system provides rapid cyanide determinations with little sample preparation or instrument supervision. Sample sizes as low as 10 μl were implemented. Data are presented to illustrate the features of this method. © 1993 Academic Press. All rights reserved.