Organotin speciation in textile and plastics by microwave-assisted extraction HPLC–ESI-MS

The HPLC coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was applied for the determination of tributyltin chloride (TBT), triphenyltin chloride (TPhT), triethyltin chloride (TET) in textile and plastic samples. The separation was performed in the isocratic mode on ion exchange SCX column with a mobile phase containing methanol–ammonium acetate (50 mmol l−1)–acetic acid (90/9.98/0.02, v/v/v). Sensitive detection of three organotin compounds by ESI-MS was performed on the basis of multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Limits of detection were 0.4, 20, 4 ng ml−1 for TBT, TPhT, and TET, respectively. Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of organotin compounds was finished in 60% (v/v) methanol aqueous solution. Under the experimental conditions used, recoveries of three organotin compounds obtained for spiked textile and plastic samples are in the range of 55–95% and the R.S.D.s are 3–9%.