Determination of Free Cyanides concentration in Bronze, Silver and Alkaline copper bath

The analysis of cyanides in electroplating baths is essential to ensure the quality of the deposition process, operator safety and environmental control. Cyanide baths, such as those used for alkaline copper plating, bronze plating and silver plating, allow for uniform deposition thanks to the formation of stable complexes with metal ions. Copper plating, in particular, is used both to protect against atmospheric corrosion and to improve the adhesion and protective effectiveness of subsequent nickel plating. In cyanide silver plating baths, cyanides form soluble complexes that are essential for depositing uniform, adhesive layers on electrical components and high-quality manufactured goods, ensuring excellent corrosion resistance, preservation of conductivity and long-term reliability against oxidation.
Monitoring cyanide concentration is essential: inadequate levels can compromise adhesion and deposit quality, while excess levels increase toxicity risks and treatment costs.

Method

Test type: End Point.

Testing time: 11 minutes.

Analysis sessions with multiple samples are possible up to a maximum of 16 tests for CDR GalvanLab® and 3 tests for CDR GalvanLab® Junior.

Passo 1
Step 1/20
Place the test tubes containing reagent R1 in one of the incubation cells and let them warm for at least 5 minutes.
Passo 2
Step 2/20
Dilute the sample to 1:100. Dilute by using the dedicated dilution kit.
Passo 3
Step 3/20
Collect 100 µL of sample with a pipette. Use a new tip for each test to prevent contamination from previous samples.
Passo 4
Step 4/20
Carefully clean the outside of the pipette tip with blotting paper, avoiding contact between the extremity of the tip and the paper.
Passo 5
Step 5/20
Place the sample in the dilution tube. Keeping the tip immersed in reagent, press and release the piston of the pipette several times.
Passo 6
Step 6/20
Gently shake the sample dilution tube.
Passo 7
Step 7/20
Collect 50 µL of R2 with the pipette.
Passo 8
Step 8/20
Carefully clean the outside of the pipette tip with blotting paper, avoiding contact between the extremity of the tip and the paper.
Passo 9
Step 9/20
Place the R2 reagent in the cuvette. Keeping the tip immersed in reagent, press and release the piston of the pipette several times.
Passo 10
Step 10/20
Gently shake the cuvette 2-3 times.
Passo 11
Step 11/20
Place the cuvette in one of the incubation cells and start the timer by pressing the timer icon.
Passo 12
Step 12/20
Gently shake the cuvette 2-3 times.
Passo 13
Step 13/20
Select the cuvette to be read from the display. Place the cuvette in the cell marked with the blue light and press READ.
Passo 14
Step 14/20
Collect 50 µL of diluted sample with a pipette. Use a new tip for each test to prevent contamination from previous samples.
Passo 15
Step 15/20
Carefully clean the outside of the pipette tip with blotting paper, avoiding contact between the extremity of the tip and the paper.
Passo 16
Step 16/20
Place the sample in the cuvette. Keeping the tip immersed in reagent, press and release the piston of the pipette several times.
Passo 17
Step 17/20
Gently shake the cuvette 2-3 times.
Passo 18
Step 18/20
Place the cuvette in one of the incubation cells and start the timer by pressing the timer icon.
Passo 19
Step 19/20
Gently shake the cuvette 2-3 times.
Passo 20
Step 20/20
Place the cuvette in the cell marked with the blue light and press READ to perform the photometric reading.
5%

Sample treatment

The sample can be used as is. The sample needs to be diluted only for the following curves: bronze [1-100] g/L, alkaline copper [1-50] g/L and silver [100-300] g/L.

Principle of the test

The content of cyanides is determined, after dilution, by reaction with a chromogen. The test has a total duration of approx. 10 minutes at the end of which the signal related to the colored complex formed is detected.

Calibration curve

The calibration curve was obtained by correlating the CDR method with the reference method.

Cyanides Analysis in Baths: Calibration Curve of the CDR GalvanLab® instrument with the reference method.

Reagent test Kits

Code *400060: 100 test
Code *400065: 10 test
The reagents have a shelf-life of 12 months

Measuring range Bronze

AnalysesMeasuring rangeResolutionRepeatability
Free Cyanide bronze bath [1-100] g/L1 - 100 g/L0.100 g/L0.5 g/L
Free Cyanide on bronze bath [0.01-1] g/L0.01 - 1 g/L0.001 g/L0.012 g/L

Measuring range Bronze Silver

AnalysesMeasuring rangeResolutionRepeatability
Free Cyanide silver bath [100-300] g/L100 - 300 g/L1.000 g/L3 g/L
Free Cyanide silver bath [3-80] g/L3 - 80 g/L0.100 g/L0.7 g/L

Measuring range Alkaline copper

AnalysesMeasuring rangeResolutionRepeatability
Free Cyanide alkaline copper bath [1-50] g/L1 - 50 g/L KCN0.100 g/L KCN0.5 g/L KCN
Free Cyanide alkaline copper bath [20-100] g/L20 - 100 g/L KCN0.100 g/L KCN1.1 g/L KCN

The chemical analysis instruments for electroplating baths

CDR GalvanLab®

  • Complete analysis panel, supplied already configured
  • Up to 16 determinations simultaneously
  • Possibility of carrying out analyses of the same sample
  • Integrated printer
  • Full connections (LAN - USB - Bluetooth barcode/QR code reader)

CDR GalvanLab® Jr

  • Partial analysis panel, customisable configuration
  • Up to 3 determinations simultaneously
  • Wireless connection to external printer
  • USB connections
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