Cyanide is a fast acting poison that affects our ability to use the oxygen we breathe. Severe breathing difficulties develop very rapidly when cyanide is swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. A few hundred milligrams of this compound in solution, or parts per million (ppm) in air, are enough to cause severe to lethal damage in adults if ingested or inhaled. Most people are unable to detect its odour and therefore have no warning of its presence. Moreover, it is particularly harmful for aquatic life and habitats. but the truth is that without it our daily lives would not be the same. It is an essential chemical compound for a large number of industrial processes and products. It is frequently used in developed industries, such as electroplating, metallurgy, chemical manufacturing and mining and to produce vitamins (B12), jewellery, adhesives, computer electronics, cosmetics, paints, pharmaceuticals and table salt, among others. It is also present naturally in over 2,500 plants like cassava and almonds which can poison those who eat it if insufficiently processed.
Nowadays, detection of cyanide relies on lengthy and cumbersome procedures carried out far from the source, i.e. in specialised laboratories that often require expensive equipment and highly trained personnel. Moreover, given the high reactivity of cyanide and its related compounds, sample analysis is difficult and often results in data subject to significant errors. There is therefore an urgent need to find new solutions to manage it properly so that it doesn’t present major issues for the environment and society.
CyanoKit is an innovative platform technology for the detection of cyanide that can be used in nearly any field of application. It detects cyanide 98% faster than available methods, is reliable (>90% accuracy) and easy-to-use, making the test suitable for a wide range of users, from highly specialised chemists to farmers. CyanoKit has arrived to effectively address cyanide management and protect environment and human’s safety.
