Speciation and detection of organotins from PVC pipe by micro-liquid chromatography-electrospray-ion trap mass spectrometry

This paper describes the application of a micro-liquid chromatography-elect rospray-ion trap mass spectrometry (mu -LC-ES-ITMS) method for separation a nd detection of organotin compounds leached from potable-water polyvinyl ch loride (PVC) pipe. Dibutyltin (DBT) is added as a heat stabilizer to PVC. D BT was determined in I I water samples that had remained static in PVC pipe s over several days (totaling 96 h). Other organotin compounds in the leach ate were screened for, by using mu -LC-ES-ITMS. An initial level of approxi mately 1 mu gl(-1) of DBT resulted within 24 h, with a subsequent drop and then a rise in DBT levels over the next 96 h to 0.8 mu gl(-1).