Microanalytical determination of tin in organotin compounds

Existing procedures for the determination of tin in organotin compounds are reviewed, and a new procedure is described which can be used for the rapid microanalysis of most organotin compounds. Wet oxidation with sulphuric acid and 30% hydrogen peroxide is followed by spectrophotometric determination of the extracted ternary tin(IV)-chloride-oxine complex in chloroform. Time for a single determination is 20 min, and the relative standard deviation is 0.7% for 1-5 mg of tin. On account of their volatility, methyltin compounds must be subjected to a sealed-tube wet oxidation in sulphuric-nitric acid mixture. Addition of sulphamic acid after boiling to remove most of the nitric acid makes this compatible with the solvent extraction step. Tin present as organotin stabilizer in PVC samples can also be determined by this method, after destruction of the organic matter with sulphuric acid and 50% hydrogen peroxide.