FIBEROPTIC PROBES FOR CYANIDE USING METALLOPORPHYRINS AND A CORRIN

Fiber-optic probes for cyanide detection were constructed using metalloporphyrins and a corrin. The probes are based on a change in absorbance that occurs when cyanide coordinates with the reagent used. Response times are as fast as 2 min for cyanide concentrations above 1 x 10(-5) M. The reproducibility at a given cyanide concentration level varies for the different reagents, but is most often below 5% (r.s.d.) for the useful portion of the calibration graph. The corrin-based probe is reversible and can be reused. The utility of each reagent is characterized in terms of response time, useful concentration range and reversibility.