A fast and effective routine method based on HS-SPME–GC–MS/MS for the analysis of organotin compounds in biota samples

Abstract This work validated an automated, fast, and low solvent- consuming methodology suited for routine analysis of tributyltin (TBT) and degradation products (dibutyltin, DBT; monobutyltin, MBT) in biota samples. The method was based on the headspace solid-phase microextraction methodology (HS-SPME), coupled with gas chromatographic separation and tandem mass-spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). The effectiveness of the matrix-matched signal ratio external calibration was tested for quantification purposes. The exclusion of matrix influences in the calibration curves proved the suitability of this versatile quantification method. The method detection limits obtained were of 3 ng Sn g −1  dw for all the analytes. The analysis of references materials showed satisfying accuracy under optimum calibration conditions (% recovery between 87–111%; |Z-scores|