Micro-determination of tin in organotin compounds by flame-emission and atomic-absorption spectrophotometry

Abstract

A general method is described for the micro-determination of tin in organotin compounds, using either flame-emission or atomic-absorption spectrophotometry. Air-acetylene, dinitrogen oxide-acetylene and air-hydrogen flames have been compared: either of the air flames may be used, but the last mentioned is to be preferred as it is less noisy. The effect of different instrumental and chemical parameters on the emission and absorption of tin has been investigated. A number of organotin compounds have been analysed by both methods as well as by an alternative extraction-spectrophotometric method. The proposed method, in which samples are dissolved in a mixed solvent of water-hydrochloric acid-ethanol-butan-2-one and are aspirated into a near stoicheiometric air-hydrogen flame in an atomic-absorption spectrophotometer, is simple, accurate, rapid and equally useful for organic and for inorganic compounds. Metallic tin is used as the standard.