Amino Acid Formation from Aqueous Cyanide Solution by Ultraviolet Rays Irradiation

When an aqueous solution of KCN was irradiated by ultraviolet rays at room temperature, CNconcentration has fairly diminished, and the wavelength of optical absorption peak in the solution has shifted from 200 nm to 230-260 nm, and a new weak absorption peak appeared at the visible region (355 nm). These changes didn't occur by using a Pyrex filter. The reaction products were acid-hydrolyzed, and subjected to an amino acid analysis. It became apparent that some amino acids mainly consisting of glycine were produced and the reaction was a chain reaction initiated by the ·OH radical which arose from water photolysis.