MICROWAVE-ACCELERATED SPECIATION ANALYSIS FOR BUTYLTIN COMPOUNDS IN SEDIMENTS AND BIOMATERIALS BY LARGE-VOLUME INJECTION CAPILLARY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY QUARTZ FURNACE ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY

A method for speciation analysis of butyltins in sediments and biomate rials by capillary GC with atomic absorption spectrometric detection w as developed. Mono-, di- and tributyltin in sediments were quantitativ ely leached with 50% acetic acid, whereas biomaterials were dissolved in a 25% tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide (TMAH) solution; both processe s were completed under the action of a low-power focused microwave fie ld within 1-5 min which is 20-100 times faster than with conventional procedures. The butyltins were derivatized with sodium tetraethylborat e (NaBEt(4)) in the aqueous phase, and simultaneously extracted into h exane (5 min). On-line preconcentration in the injector liner by solve nt venting enabled to obtain a detection limit of 5 ng g(-1) for 0.2 g of dry sample. A sample throughput of 5 samples h(-1) was achieved. T he method developed was validated by analyzing three certified referen ce materials: PACS-1, CRM 462 and NIES 11.