Extraction of tributyltin and triphenyltin across a single oil droplet/water interface Original Research Article

Tributyltin (TBT+) and triphenyltin (TPT+) were extracted with merocyanine 540 (MC−) from water into a 1,6-dichlorohexane droplet with the radius of 40 μm and the absorption spectra of MC− were measured by a single microdroplet manipulation and microabsorption technique. The mass transfer rate and the partitioning ratio of MC− were characteristically influenced by the TBT+, TPT+, MC−, and Cl− concentrations in water. The ion pair extraction processes of the organotin compounds with the anions were discussed in terms of the ion transfer and adsorption–desorption of the solutes.