SEPARATION AND DETERMINATION OF NANOGRAM AMOUNTS OF INORGANIC TIN AND METHYLTIN COMPOUNDS IN THE ENVIRONMENT

Analytical methods have been developed for the determination of trace amounts of inorganic tin and methyltin compounds. Tin compounds in aqueous solution at pH 6.5 are converted to the corresponding volatile hydride, SnH4, CH3SnH3, (CH3)2SnH2, and (CH3)3SnH, by reaction with sodium borohydride. These are scrubbed from solution, cryogenically trapped on a U-tube, and separated upon warming. Detection limits are approximately 0.01 ng as Sn when using a hydrogen-rich, hydrogen-air flame emission type detector (SnH band). Parts-per-trillion concentrations of methyltin compounds were found in a variety of natural waters and in human urine. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.