Determination of tin in biological samples using gaseous hydride generation-inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry.

A highly sensitive method determining for sub-microgram/gram levels of tin in biological samples is described. Tin hydride reduced by sodium borohydride and trichloroacetic acid solution was introduced into inductively coupled plasma after separation of liquid and excess hydrogen by an improved gas/liquid separator, and emission intensity was measured at a wavelength of 189.989 nm. Samples were decomposed by a nitric acid-perchloric acid mixture and analyzed after dilution by a standard addition technique. The relative standard deviation was 1.2% for a 10 ng/ml tin standard solution with a detection limit of 30 pg/ml.