GFAAS determination of ultratrace quantities of organotins in sea-water by using enhancement methods.

ABSTRACT

Tributyltin in sea-water is preconcentrated by extraction into toluene and determined by enhanced graphite-furnace atomic-absorption (GFAAS) at ultratrace concentrations (as low as 1.0 mug l .) equal to or lower than the toxic limits for aquatic organotins. Toluene is preferred to MIBK, chloroform or hexane as the solvent. Sea salts, in concentrations as low as 0.1%, critically interfere with GFAAS tin determinations, and must be removed by washing the extract with demineralized water. Signal enhancement effected by inserting L'vov platforms in the graphite furnace tubes or by adding ammonium dichromate to the analyte solution is nearly additive when both methods of enhancement are combined.