Simple, rapid, and portable chromatographic tetrazolium reduction method for detection of potassium cyanide in medicinal drugs and confectionery.

A simple, rapid, and portable paper chromatographic method for detection of potassium cyanide in medicinal drugs and a few confectionery samples is described. Potassium cyanide is extracted in methanol and concentrated. Acetone-water-1.5% EDTA (4 + 5.5 + 0.5) mixture is used as the solvent system for paper chromatography. The KCN chromatograms appear as pink spots on paper due to reduction of the chromogenic salt 2-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-phenyl tetrazolium chloride; phenazonium methosulfate is a catalyst. Microgram amounts of KCN can be separated and detected in the laboratory or the marketplace because of the simplicity of the method.