Effects of extraction and derivatization techniques on recovery of organotin species in environmental matrices (W3)

Full text: Organotin (OT) contamination is still persistent in most coastal environments and estuaries and can be monitored accurately by analysis of sediments and sedentary aquatic animal populations. In addition to human exposure via contaminated seafood, there is increasing concern about OT compounds in man-made consumer products. Organotin analysis involves the extraction from the matrix, derivatization (for GC analysis), separation of the different species and detection. Commonly used extraction techniques are mechanical shaking, ultrasonic agitation and microwave leaching (open or closed vessel). Accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) has also been reported. In this study, closed-vessel microwave extraction and ASE methods are compared for OT analysis in environmental tissues using separation by gas chromatography (GC) and detection by inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS). The efficiency of an ethylation procedure with sodiumtetraethylborate (NABEt4) using different matrices and derivatization durations is monitored by comparing data obtained by external calibration with results by species-specific isotope dilution analysis (SS-IDMS) of dibutyltin (TBT) and dibutyltin (DBT) enriched with 117Sn. Uncertainty estimates for both quantification techniques will be provided. (author)