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Analytica 2016
September 28-30, 2016
Volume 7, Issue 5(Suppl) J Anal Bioanal Tech 2016
ISSN: 2155-9872 JABT, an open access journal
conferenceseries .com
September 28-30, 2016 Orlando, USA
7th International Conference and Exhibition on
Analytical & Bioanalytical Techniques
Makhapa Makhafola et al., J Anal Bioanal Tech 2016, 7:5(Suppl)
Cynoprobe online, in process cyanide analyzer
Makhapa Makhafola and Paul Brereton-Stiles
Mintek, South Africa
Mintek provides world class research and development expertise, test work and process optimization for the mining
industry locally and internationally. Mintek’s cynoprobe online in-process cyanide analyzer for gold leaching operations
continues to enjoy success, with close to 100 installations on sites across the globe. The use of the amperometric method helps
limit interferences from unwanted species, makes the instrument cost effective to run, facilitates rapid measurement cycles, and
enables the measurement of both free and weak acid dissociable (WAD) cyanide in one instrument. One of the notable outputs
from Mintek’s 2015 research is a prototype hand-held version of Mintek’s laboratory “lab” cynoprobe. The lab cynoprobe was
developed several years ago to broaden the impact of Mintek’s cyanide measurement technology, and facilitates the use and
evaluation of this amperometric technique within a client’s own laboratory to assist with International Cyanide Management
Code (ICMC) compliance and to evaluate the measurement principle for wider online implementation of the cynoprobe v3
as part of a broader ICMC compliance strategy. Mintek has sold over 15 of these units in recent years, and has seen increased
requests from industry for the instrument. The present version of the lab cynoprobe unit is ultimately a simplified version of
the cynoprobe 3 instrument. The drawback of the existing lab cynoprobe unit is the high cost associated with manufacturing
the instrument. As a consequence, a project was initiated to develop a portable handheld cynoprobe unit using embedded
technology to replace the expensive lab cynoprobe. In 2015 a hand-held, battery operated prototype of the unit was tested
and shown to produce excellent results. A cost comparison was performed and indicated an expected manufacturing cost
reduction of greater than 70% between the old lab cynoprobe and new handheld cynoprobe.
Biography
Makhapa Makhafola is currently a General Manager at Mintek. He was the Lecturer in Analytical Chemistry at Technikon Northern Gauteng (Tshwane University of
Technology) and University of Venda, South Africa. He was the Director in Quality Assurance at Border Technikon (Walter Sisulu University) and at the University
of Venda until he joined University of Kwa-Zulu Natal as the Director Quality Promotion & Assurance in July 2010. He has served as Member of Umalusi Council
and also as Chairperson of Lovedale FET College Audit Committee. He is currently the Chairperson of DST/MINTEK Nanotechnology Innovation Centre Steering
Committee. He is serving as an Academic Committee Member of QS World Ranking Universities. He has completed his Post-doctoral training in Analytical
Chemistry at Indiana University and presented his research work in more than 19 international conferences and published in credible journals.