Scientists in Mexico have reported a novel route for the non-polluting scavenging of cyanides.

Strecker intermediates have been used to capture sodium cyanide which is a source of significant pollution and is found in crude oil. 

Hiram Beltrán based at the Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo, Mexico, and co-workers have used Strecker intermediates as the scavenger molecules, which they say are environmentally friendly and are water-soluble.

The intermediates are formed in a fast and efficient reaction between ?-aminoalcohols and paraformaldehyde.  On reaction with cyanide the intermediates cleave leading to tridentate ligands coordinated with sodium. 

In industrial processes scavenger molecules are commonly used to reduce the levels of toxic materials which cause pollution. The few scavengers that have been known up to now to be selective towards cyanide ions are themselves toxic.

One of the problems encountered in the mining and oil industries is the corrosion of carbon steel, which is aided by the presence of cyanide ions. For these industries reducing the amount of cyanide ions present in crude oil is an important goal. The potential of removing cyanides using non-pollutant scavengers in this way is a step forward. 

Katherine Davies