Proceedings of the International Cyanide Detection Testing Workshop

Method Advantages Disadvantages
High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Mass
Spectrometry (HPLC-MS)
The combination of a mass spectrometer and a
liquid chromatograph makes a powerful tool for
the detection of trace quantities of non-volatile
compounds.
Gas Chromatography (GC)
Direct GC
Gas chromatography is a type of chromatography
in which the mobile phase is a carrier gas, usually an
inert gas, and the stationary phase is a microscopic
layer of liquid on an inert solid support, inside a
column.
Headspace GC
Headspace analysis is most suited for the analysis
of the very light volatiles in samples that can be
effi ciently portioned into the headspace gas volume
from the liquid or solid matrix sample. Complex
sample matrices, which would otherwise require
sample extraction or preparation, or be diffi cult to
analyze directly, are ideal candidates for headspace
since they can be placed directly in a vial with little or
no preparation.
105
- “gold standard”
analytical technique
for quantitative
analysis of complex
biological and
environmental
samples
- high sensitivity
- may be most
suitable to
investigating
metabolites of
cyanide exposure
- potential of
detecting evidence
of earlier cyanide
exposure
- very sensitive and
selective
- minimal sample
preparation but,
depending on
analyte of interest,
extraction of
sample may be
required
- minimal/no sample
preparation
- relatively easy to
use once validated
protocol is
established
- may require
derivatization (sample
pre-treatment) of
analyte of interest (i.e.
cyanide metabolites)
- possibly expensive
- machines may not be
available in source
countries
- needs expertise to
run and maintain
instrument
- see above comments
on GC
- see above comments
on GC