In situ propylation using sodium tetrapropylborate as a fast and simplified sample preparation for the speciation analysis of organolead compounds using GC-MIP-AES

A fast and simple sample preparation procedure for the speciation of organo lead compounds is described. Separation and detection of the different spec ies was carried out using gas chromatography hyphenated to microwave-induce d plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Derivatization was performed using i n situ propylation with sodium tetrapropylborate in an acetic acid-sodium a cetate buffer medium of pH 4.5 with simultaneous extraction of the propylat ed species into hexane. Detection limits (as Pb) ranging from 77 fg (0.15 n g kg(-1)) to 102 fg (0.21 ng kg(-1)) and relative standard deviations betwe en 4 and 6% were achieved. Accuracy of the procedure was confirmed by analy sis of a certified reference material (CRM 605, Road Dust), where the desor ption of the different species from the matrix by acid leaching was also in tegrated in the derivatization and extraction step. The optimized sample pr eparation procedure was applied to the analysis of alpine snow sampled at t he Mont-Blanc in France.</abstract> <kwdgroup> </kwdgroup> </itemdata>