Determination of butyltin and phenyltin species by reversed-phase liquid chromatography and fluorimetric detection

Chromatographic separation of monobutyltin (MBT), monophenyltin (MPhT), dib utyltin (DBT), diphenyltin (DPhT), tributyltin (TBT) and triphenyltin (TPhT ) was studied using end-capped reversed-phases (RP) and methanol-acetic aci d-water or acetronitrile-acetic acid-water mixtures as mobile phases. Sever al RP columns were evaluated, and the effect of acetic acid, oxalic acid, t riethylamine, and organic modifier on peak shape and retention was examined . A method based on gradient elution RPLC and fluorimetric detection is pro posed for the determination of DBT, DPhT, TBT and TPhT. The sensitivity of the method makes it suitable for environmental analysis. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.