Comparison between GC-MS and GC-ICPMS using isotope dilution for the simultaneous monitoring of inorganic and methyl mercury, butyl and phenyl tin compounds in biological tissues.

The aim of this work is to compare simultaneous isotope dilution analysis of organotin and organomercury compounds by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (GC-ICP/MS) on certified bivalve samples. These samples were extracted by microwave with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH). Derivatization with both NaBEt4 and NaBPr4 was evaluated, and analytical performances were compared. Two CRM materials, BCR-710 and CRM-477, were analyzed by both techniques to verify accuracy. A mixed spike containing (201)Hg-enriched methylmercury (MeHg), (199)Hg-enriched inorganic mercury (iHg), (119)Sn-enriched monobutyltin (MBT), dibutyltin (DBT), and tributyltin (TBT) as well as homemade (116)Sn-enriched monophenyltin (MPT), diphenyltin (DPT), and triphenyltin (TPT) was used for the isotope dilution analysis of samples. The two techniques studied were compared in terms of classic analytical parameters: linearity, precision or repeatability (i.e., percent relative standard deviation, RSD%), limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantification (LOQ), showing excellent linearity, precision below 12% for all analytes, and LOQs of 0.06-1.45 pg for GC-MS and 0.02-0.27 pg for GC-ICP/MS.