HPTLC analysis of organotin compounds in preservative solutions and preservative‐treated wood

Abstract

Abstract A high‐performance thin‐layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method is described for the determination of tributyltin compounds (bis(tri‐ n ‐butyltin) oxide, TBTO, and tri‐ n ‐butyltin naphthenate, TBTN) and their degradation products (dibutyltin and monobutyltin compounds). The organotin compounds are extracted from wood with ethanol containing 0.5% (v/v) of hydrochloric acid and the separation of the defferent kinds of organotin compounds is achieved by thin‐layer chromatography. The sample spots are measured using a scanning densitometer after decomposing the organotin compounds to inorganic tin by ultraviolet irradiation and visualization of the spots with pyrocatechol violet. Applications of the method to detection and quantification of organotin compounds in preservative solutions, in recently impregnated wood, and in wood samples from five‐year‐old window frames are described.