Butyltin speciation in sediments and biological samples by hydride generation gas chromatography quartz furnace atomic absorption spectrometry; a study of acid leaching procedures and hydride generation

The efficiency of the extraction of butyltin compounds from sediments and biological matter by acid leaching procedures has been evaluated on real samples using the hydride generation gas chromatography quartz furnace atomic absorption (GC AA) speciation method. The most efficient method uses cold pure acetic acid over a period of four hours. Hydride generation using sodium tetrahydroborate (NaBH₄) is dependent on matrix composition and care must be taken to adapt the amount of reactant to the organic content of the sample.