Science. 1981 Aug 14;213(4509):770-1. doi: 10.1126/science.213.4509.770.
Both biologically active and autoclaved sediments convert trimethyltin hydroxide to the volatile tetramethyltin. Larger amounts of tetramethyltin were formed in the bioactive sediments than in the sterile sediments. No volatile tin compounds were detected in the absence of trimethyltin hydroxide or from trimethyltin hydroxide in seawater or in seawater containing bentonite. The formation of tetramethyltin is slow, taking over 80 days at 16 degrees C to reach a maximum. The extent of conversion, although significant, is not extensive. The formation of tetramethyltin occurs in estuarine sediments by both abiotic and biologically enhanced pathways. A redistribution mechanism accounts for at least the abiotic pathway and possibly both formation pathways.
无论是有生物活性的还是经高压灭菌的沉积物都会将三甲基锡氢氧化物转化为易挥发的四甲基锡。在有生物活性的沉积物中形成的四甲基锡比无菌沉积物中多。在没有三甲基锡氢氧化物的情况下，或者在海水中或含有膨润土的海水中，都没有检测到挥发性锡化合物。四甲基锡的形成速度很慢，在 16 摄氏度下需要 80 多天才能达到最大值。尽管转化率很高，但并不广泛。四甲基锡的形成是通过非生物和生物增强途径在河口沉积物中发生的。再分配机制至少解释了非生物途径，也可能解释了两种形成途径。
