Ion Chromatographic Determination of Cyanide Contamination in Fruit and Evaluation of a Colorimetric Test Kit

Abstract

Ion chromatography with electrochemical detection has been applied to the determination of cyanide in fruit spiked with potassium cyanide. The results were compared with those obtained by a cyanide test kit (Merkoquant 10044). There was good agreement in results at 45, 150 and 300 ppm levels of cyanide addition. The added cyanide was found to decrease on standing in the fruit matrix. Residual cyanide in fruit spiked at 500 ppm CN⁻ could be detected up to 3 days later by the kit method. However, with the HPLC method, detection was possible even after two to three weeks. Increase of sample pH seemed to improve recoveries by both methods

Key Words:

• Ion chromatography
• cyanide
• fruit