Cyanogenesis in and Direct Analysis of Hydrogen Cyanide in Flowers, Leaves, Husks, and Nuts Using Selected Ion Flow Tube-Mass Spectrometry.

has increasing commercial importance in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. However, the toxic compound hydrogen cyanide (HCN) released from the hydrolysis of cyanogenic compounds in causes a safety risk. In this study, optimum conditions for the maximum release of HCN from were evaluated. Direct headspace analysis of HCN above plant parts (flower, leaves, nuts, and husks) was carried out using selected ion flow tube-mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS). The cyanogenic glycoside dhurrin and total cyanide in the extracts were analyzed using HPLC-MS and UV-vi spectrophotometer, respectively. HCN released in the headspace was at a maximum when samples were treated with pH 7 buffer solution and heated at 50 °C for 60 min. Correspondingly, treatment of Macadamia samples under these conditions resulted in 93%-100% removal of dhurrin and 81%-91% removal of total cyanide in the sample extracts. Hydrolysis of cyanogenic glucosides followed a first-order reaction with respect to HCN production where cyanogenesis is principally induced by pH changes initiating enzymatic hydrolysis rather than thermally induced reactions. The effective processing of different plant parts is important and beneficial for the safe production and utilization of -based products.