Alkyltin speciation in sea water with on-line hydride conversion and gas chromatography—atomic emission detection

A method for the speciation of alkyltin pollutants in sea water combines solid phase extraction of organotin species from aqueous samples and an on-line hydride generation technique with gas chromatography, followed by element-specific detection for tin. Detection was performed using a microwave-induced plasma atomic emission detection system which provides a 0.5 pg detection limit for tin and a 3·10 4 tin-to-carbon selectivity ratio. Solid-phase extraction provides fast, simple analyte concentration while on-line hydride conversion improves chromatographic behavior and analyte recovery. This combination results in a method capable of measuring pg/ml levels of alkyltin species in the complex matrix of sea water.