Rapid method for the determination of tetraalkyltin compounds in various kinds of biological material by gas chromatography.

A rapid gas chromatographic method is described for the simultaneous determination of tetraalkyltin compounds in biological materials. Tetraalkyltins were rapidly purified by direct passage through a silica gel column after extraction from the homogenized tissues with n-hexane. Gas chromatographic analysis was alternatively carried out with PEG 20M at temperatures from 50 to 150 degrees C. A hydrogen flame-ionization detector was more sensitive and selective towards tetraalkyltins than an electron-capture detector. Detection limits reached 1 x 10(-8) g for tetraalkyltins. Recoveries of tetraalkyltins added to various tissues at the 85-nmole level ranged from 97 to 104%. In vivo studies indicated that for a sample containing more than 0.1 micrograms of tetraalkyltins per gram of tissue, the proposed method is accurate enough for quantitative analysis.