Determination of organotin compounds in fish by gas chromatography-atomic absorption spectrometry using 8-quinolinol as a complexing agent

Recoveries of tributyltin and triphenyltin chlorides spiked in fish were im proved by addition of 8-quinolinol. Fish samples spiked with tributyltin an d triphenyltin chlorides were homogenized with hydrochloric acid. The chlor ides were extracted twice into hexane. After centrifugation, a 2-propanol s olution of the chlorides were adsorbed to Bondesil SCX and eluted with a me thanol solution of 1 M hydrochloric acid. The chlorides were hydradized wit h an ethanol solution of sodium tetrahydroborate(III) and injected into a g as chromatography-atomic absorption spectrometer. Tributyltin and triphenyl tin chlorides in an NIES Certified Reference Material (sea bass) were deter mined by the proposed procedure. The analytical results were close to the c ertified and reference values, respectively. Low recoveries were obtained w hen monobutyltin and dibutyltin chlorides were spiked with and without 8-qu inolinol. Tributyltin and triphenyltin chlorides are supposed to form ion-a ssociates with 8-quinolinol in an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid. Th e detection limits (three times the signal-to-noise ratio) of tributyltin a nd triphenyltin chlorides were 105 and 165 pg, respectively.