A procedure for determination of tetraethyltin (TeET) and tetrabutyltin (TeBT) in water by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) using the headspace approach has been developed. The method has been adapted for the simultaneous determination of mono-, di- and tributyltin species (MBT, DBT and TBT) after derivatization with sodium tetraethylborate in water and sediment samples. The analytical procedures were optimized with respect to stirring conditions, extraction time and extraction temperature. The pH and the amount of derivatizing reagent were also considered in derivatization reaction procedures. The analysis was carried out using gas chromatography equipped with flame ionization detection. The detection limits obtained for TeET and TeBT, in equilibrium conditions (room temperature for TeET and 40 degrees C for TeBT) were 28 and 20 ng/l (as Sn), respectively. The detection limit for butyltin species in water, which was limited by signals which are non-specific for the tin compounds and the sensitivity of the FID system, was found ca. 1 microg/l (as Sn). The SPME method was validated for analysis of sediments by analyzing the certified reference material PACS-2 finding a good agreement with the certified values.
