Headspace sorptive solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) combined with a spectrophotometry system: A simple glass devise for extraction and simultaneous determination of cyanide and thiocyanate in environmental and biological samples

•First inceptive, simple and low cost HS-SPME combined with spectrophotometry has been developed.•HS-SPME has been used for simultaneous determination of CN− and CNS− ions in environmental samples.•Polyurethane foam (PUF) [Hg(HDz)2–PUF] services as an acceptor for the first time in HS-SPME for CN− analysis.•Simultaneous analysis of cyanide and thiocyanate in saliva was also performed.•Environmentally-friendly green analytical microextraction technique.

A simple, low cost and efficient headspace sorptive solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) method for determination of cyanide has been developed. The system comprises of a glass tube with two valves and a moveable glass slide fixed at its centre. It includes an acceptor phase polyurethane foam treated mercury (II) dithizonate [Hg(HDz)2–PUF] complex fixed inside by a septum cap in a cylindrical configuration (5.0 cm length and 1.0 cm diameter). The extraction is based upon the contact of the acceptor phase to the headspace and subsequently measuring the absorbance of the recovered mercury (II) dithizonate from PUFs sorbent. Unlike other HSSE, extraction and back – extractions was carried out in a closed system, thereby improving the analytical performance by preventing the analyte loss. Under the optimized conditions, a linear calibration plot in the range of 1.0–50.0 µmol L−1 was achieved with limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 0.34, 1.2 µmol L−1 CN−, respectively. Simultaneous analysis of cyanide and thiocyanate in saliva was also performed with satisfactory recoveries.

Graphical abstractA schematic diagram illustrating the glass device designed.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide