Analysis of butyltin compounds by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry: an application to the Antarctic bivalve Adamussium colbecki

✍ Scribed by Emanuele Magi; Marina Di Carro; Paola Rivaro

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2004
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 174 KB
• Volume: 18
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0268-2605
• DOI: 10.1002/aoc.701

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

A gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method was developed for the determination of butyltin compounds in biota samples. Tributyltin (TBT), dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT) were extracted in methanol‐containing tropolone (0.05% w/v) and subjected to Grignard pentylation. A solid‐phase extraction procedure on florisil was optimized in order to purify the extracts. Quantitative determinations were carried out in single ion monitoring mode (TBT m/z 305, DBT and MBT m/z 319) using tripropyltin as internal standard (m/z 277). The accuracy of the whole methodology was verified on a certified reference material (CRM 477 from BCR), obtaining a recovery of about 95% for TBT and DBT and 116% for MBT.

Detection limits (organotin cation per tissue dry weight) were 6.4 ng g^−1^ for TBT, 6.2 ng g^−1^ for DBT and 4.5 ng g^−1^ for MBT.

Butyltin compounds were determined in the marine bivalve Adamussium colbecki, collected near the Italian Antarctic Base of Terra Nova Bay, during the XIII Italian Antarctic Campaign. The presence of the analytes, although at low levels, was verified in the whole tissue, gills and digestive glands; gills showed the highest concentrations, ranging from 31 to 133 ng g^−1^. The occurrence of butyltin compounds in the southern polar region studied suggests their ubiquitous distribution. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.