Organometallic compounds in soils 117
Supercritical fluid chromatography
In situ derivatisation and supercritical fluid extraction has been used for the simultaneous extraction and determination of butyl tin and phenyltin compounds in soils and
sediments [29].
Atomic absorption spectrometry
To determine methyltin butyltin and inorganic tin in Great Bay estuary soils and
sediments, Randall et al [30] extracted the freeze dried sediment with 2.5 mol L
−1
calcium chloride and 2.5 mol L
−1 hydrochloric acid and analysed by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry. Detection limits for inorganic tin and tributyltin
were 2.2 ng kg
−1 and 0.6 ng kg
−1 respectively. Recoveries of methyltin and butyltin
species from spiking experiments were greater than 70 ± 10%. Tributyltin was found
in all sampled sites, probably originating from tributyltin based anti-fouling paints.
Berling Gong and Matsumoto et al [31] used tributyl phosphate as a sensitivity
enhancing solvent for the determination of organotin compounds in soil by carbon
furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Addition of tributyl phosphate and utilising a temperature of 1000
◦ C improves the sensitivity of detection or organotin to
that achieved for inorganic tin. At 1000
◦ C the organotin is converted to SnP 2 O 2 and
Sn 2 P 2 O 2 .
Li et al [55] demonstrated that, whereas atomic absorption spectrometry is usually insensitive to organotin compounds, the addition of tributyl phosphate enhances
sensitivity considerably. Tributyltin at 1000
◦ C converts organotin to SnP 2 O 7 and
Sn 2 P 2 O 7 .
Miscellaneous
Adinarayana et al [56] determined triphenyltin compounds in plants and soil by thinlayer chromatography with biological detection.
Lucero et al [57] has reviewed methods for the determination of triphenyltin
compounds in soils.
4.4 ORGANOMERCURY COMPOUNDS
In lakes, streams and rivers, mercury can collect in the bottom sediments and soils
where it may remain for a long time. It is difficult to release this mercury from the
matrixes for analysis. Mercury is also found in soil as a result of applications of mercury
containing compounds, or sewage contaminated with traces of mercury. Much concern
has been expressed in recent years concerning the contamination of the environment
by mercury compounds, both organic mercury originating in industrial effluents and
organic mercury originating as fungicides, seed dressings etc.
Decomposition of mercurial fungicides in contact with soil has long been known
[32–34]. The escape of metallic and organic mercury vapours and the amount of
organic mercurial remaining in soil, however, have not been investigated except
through indirect biological techniques, because of inadequacy of chemical methods.
Booer et al [32], basing his conclusions on biological phytotoxicity experiments, postulated a mechanism for organic mercury decomposition in soil. He suggested that
Supercritical fluid chromatography
In situ derivatisation and supercritical fluid extraction has been used for the simultaneous extraction and determination of butyl tin and phenyltin compounds in soils and
sediments [29].
Atomic absorption spectrometry
To determine methyltin butyltin and inorganic tin in Great Bay estuary soils and
sediments, Randall et al [30] extracted the freeze dried sediment with 2.5 mol L
−1
calcium chloride and 2.5 mol L
−1 hydrochloric acid and analysed by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry. Detection limits for inorganic tin and tributyltin
were 2.2 ng kg
−1 and 0.6 ng kg
−1 respectively. Recoveries of methyltin and butyltin
species from spiking experiments were greater than 70 ± 10%. Tributyltin was found
in all sampled sites, probably originating from tributyltin based anti-fouling paints.
Berling Gong and Matsumoto et al [31] used tributyl phosphate as a sensitivity
enhancing solvent for the determination of organotin compounds in soil by carbon
furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Addition of tributyl phosphate and utilising a temperature of 1000
◦ C improves the sensitivity of detection or organotin to
that achieved for inorganic tin. At 1000
◦ C the organotin is converted to SnP 2 O 2 and
Sn 2 P 2 O 2 .
Li et al [55] demonstrated that, whereas atomic absorption spectrometry is usually insensitive to organotin compounds, the addition of tributyl phosphate enhances
sensitivity considerably. Tributyltin at 1000
◦ C converts organotin to SnP 2 O 7 and
Sn 2 P 2 O 7 .
Miscellaneous
Adinarayana et al [56] determined triphenyltin compounds in plants and soil by thinlayer chromatography with biological detection.
Lucero et al [57] has reviewed methods for the determination of triphenyltin
compounds in soils.
4.4 ORGANOMERCURY COMPOUNDS
In lakes, streams and rivers, mercury can collect in the bottom sediments and soils
where it may remain for a long time. It is difficult to release this mercury from the
matrixes for analysis. Mercury is also found in soil as a result of applications of mercury
containing compounds, or sewage contaminated with traces of mercury. Much concern
has been expressed in recent years concerning the contamination of the environment
by mercury compounds, both organic mercury originating in industrial effluents and
organic mercury originating as fungicides, seed dressings etc.
Decomposition of mercurial fungicides in contact with soil has long been known
[32–34]. The escape of metallic and organic mercury vapours and the amount of
organic mercurial remaining in soil, however, have not been investigated except
through indirect biological techniques, because of inadequacy of chemical methods.
Booer et al [32], basing his conclusions on biological phytotoxicity experiments, postulated a mechanism for organic mercury decomposition in soil. He suggested that