Abstract
A rapid analytical method for the determination of tributyltin and triphenyltin compounds in fish was investigated. These compounds were derivatized with sodium tetraethylborate (NaBEt4), and analysed by gas chromatography (GC) with flame photometric detection in the S mode. Tributyltin and triphenyltin compounds in fish were extracted as tributyltin chloride (TBT) and triphenyltin chloride (TPT) with 3 M hydrochloric acid and transferred to a hexane-diether ether mixture (4 : 6, v/v). The Extract was cleaned up by Florisil column chromatography. Eluate was evaporated to just dryness at 40°C. The residue was dissolved in 4 ml of hexane. For derivatization, 2 ml of extract and 10 ml of acetate buffer were placed into 20 ml vial, and subsequentry 500 μl of 1% NaBEt4 solution was added. The vial was closed immediately, and shaken for 2 min. Hexane layer was injected into GC. Recoveries of TBT and TPT spiked to fish at the level of 0.008 μg/g or 0.05 μg/g ranged from 90.2 to 96.6%. Detection limits of TBT and TPT in the sample were 0.001 and 0.002 μg/g.
