Determination of tributyltin in sediments by hydride generation /GC/QFAAS

All steps involved in the determination of tributyltin in sediments by anhydrous acetic acid extraction, hydride generation, cold trapping, gas chromatographic separation and quartz furnace atomic absorption spectrometry are critically examined. Detection limits (1.8 ng Sn.g^–1) and reproducibility at representative concentration levels (6–12%) are satisfying for practical purposes.