Determination of tributyltin in toluene extract from sea water by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with a new matrix modifier.

A new matrix modifier composed of calcium and chromium[VI] was proposed for the determination of tributyltin (TBT) in toluene extract from sea water containing sediment by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). Fourteen inorganic and organic compounds (barium, calcium, chromium[VI], lanthanum, magnesium, nickel, palladium, strontium, calcium-chromium[VI], calcium-strontium, nickel isocaprylate, 5%-, 10%-aqueous solution of ascorbic acid and toluene-saturated solution of ascorbic acid) as a matrix modifier were comparatively studied and a matrix modifier composed from 5 microg of calcium and 1 microg of chromium[VI] was found to give the best performance. The interference effects of co-existing elements in sea water containing sediment (aluminium, iron, magnesium, sodium and strontium) were studied. TBT in eight toluene extracts was determined by GFAAS with the proposed matrix modifier. The relative standard deviation was 3.0% for 63 ng ml(-1) of TBT (n = 11). The recoveries were 88-104%. The characteristic mass was 7 pg. The linearity range was 0-250 ng mg(-1).