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Proceedings of the International Cyanide Detection Testing Workshop

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Search for a Simplifi ed Field Test: <strong>the</strong> Soundararajan Digestion<br />

Combined with ISE or Colorimetric Methods for <strong>Detection</strong><br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>Cyanide</strong> Ion Concentrations in Marine Fish<br />

A new method for testing fi sh samples for<br />

<strong>the</strong> presence <strong>of</strong> cyanide was developed by Dr.<br />

Rengarajan Soundararajan in 1990 (Rubec and<br />

Soundararajan 1991). The method involves<br />

<strong>the</strong> digestion <strong>of</strong> fi sh tissues in concentrated<br />

sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The method<br />

is appealing since it is relatively simple and<br />

quick to conduct. The cyanide ion is released<br />

from <strong>the</strong> tissues into a basic, high pH solution<br />

preventing <strong>the</strong> cyanide from being lost to<br />

<strong>the</strong> atmosphere. <strong>Cyanide</strong> ion concentrations<br />

can <strong>the</strong>n be measured with an ion-selective<br />

electrode (ISE).<br />

Five fi sh species obtained from Indonesia tested<br />

in <strong>the</strong> USA had cyanide ion concentrations<br />

ranging from 5.8 to 23 mg/kg (ppm) (Rubec<br />

and Soundararajan 1991). A Clown Triggerfi sh<br />

obtained from <strong>the</strong> Philippines exhibited a<br />

cyanide ion measurement <strong>of</strong> 1120 mg/kg. No<br />

cyanide was detected in two Flame Angelfi sh<br />

obtained from <strong>the</strong> Marshall Islands, for two<br />

French Angelfi sh from <strong>the</strong> Caribbean, and<br />

two species <strong>of</strong> surgeonfi sh obtained from<br />

Hawaii. Hence, cyanide was detected in fi sh<br />

from countries known to have collectors<br />

using cyanide and no cyanide was detected in<br />

fi sh obtained from countries where cyanide is<br />

not used for collecting marine aquarium fi sh.<br />

Peter J. Rubec 1 and Benita Manipula 2<br />

<strong>International</strong> Marinelife Alliance<br />

1. peterrubec@cs.com<br />

2. dragon9262002@yahoo.com<br />

150<br />

The <strong>International</strong> Marinelife Alliance (IMA)<br />

evaluated <strong>the</strong> technique in 1991, but abandoned<br />

it after it was found to give anomalously high<br />

cyanide readings. It was suspected that <strong>the</strong><br />

anomalously high readings found by <strong>the</strong> IMA<br />

might have occurred because <strong>of</strong> false-positive<br />

readings caused by sulfi de interference with<br />

<strong>the</strong> ISE electrode.<br />

Fur<strong>the</strong>r research was conducted by Aquarium<br />

Systems with a small grant obtained by <strong>the</strong><br />

IMA from <strong>the</strong> Columbus Zoo (Frakes and<br />

Studt 1996). The basic procedure was to<br />

expose <strong>the</strong> fi sh to known concentration<br />

<strong>of</strong> cyanide ion, kill <strong>the</strong> fi sh, <strong>the</strong>n puree <strong>the</strong><br />

samples in 5M-NaOH. The NaOH volume<br />

was calculated to yield a 10% by weight fi sh<br />

slurry. This slurry was allowed to settle and a<br />

clear aliquot was diluted with distilled water<br />

to produce ano<strong>the</strong>r 10% by weight dilution.<br />

<strong>Cyanide</strong> ion (CN - ) concentrations in <strong>the</strong> fi nal<br />

solution, 1% fi sh tissue, and approximately<br />

0.5M-NaOH were measured in millivolts<br />

(mV) recorded with an Orion CN - ISE linked<br />

to an Orion ISE meter.<br />

These readings were compared with a<br />

semi-log plot produced with known cyanide<br />

concentrations <strong>of</strong> 0.1, 1.0, and 10 mg/L

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