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Tributyltin is listed as one of the priority substances in the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). Despite its decreasing input in the environment, it is still present and has to be monitored. In the European Metrology Research Programme project ENV08, a sensitive and reliable analytical method according to the WFD was developed to quantify this environmental pollutant at a very low limit of quantification. With the development of such a primary reference method for tributyltin, the project helped to improve the quality and comparability of monitoring data. An overview of project aims and potential analytical tools is given.
In Europe the maximum allowable concentration for tributyltin (TBT) compounds in surface water has been regulated by the water framework directive (WFD) and daughter directive that impose a limit of 0.2 ng L-1 in whole water (as tributyltin cation). Despite the large number of different methodologies for the quantification of organotin species developed in the last two decades, standardised analytical methods at required concentration level do not exist. TBT quantification at picogram level requires efficient and accurate sample preparation and preconcentration, and maximum care to avoid blank contamination. To meet the WFD requirement, a method for the quantification of TBT in mineral water at environmental quality standard (EQS) level, based on solid phase extraction (SPE), was developed and optimised. The quantification was done using species-specific isotope dilution (SSID) followed by gas chromatography (GC) coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS). The analytical process was optimised using a design of experiment (DOE) based on a factorial fractionary plan. The DOE allowed to evaluate 3 qualitative factors (type of stationary phase and eluent, phase mass and eluent volume, pH and analyte ethylation procedure) for a total of 13 levels studied, and a sample volume in the range of 250–1000 mL. Four different models fitting the results were defined and evaluated with statistic tools: one of them was selected and optimised to find the best procedural conditions. C18 phase was found to be the best stationary phase for SPE experiments. The 4 solvents tested with C18, the pH and ethylation conditions, the mass of the phases, the volume of the eluents and the sample volume can all be optimal, but depending on their respective combination. For that reason, the equation of the model conceived in this work is a useful decisional tool for the planning of experiments, because it can be applied to predict the TBT mass fraction recovery when the experimental conditions are drawn. This work shows that SPE is a convenient technique for TBT pre-concentration at pico-trace levels and a robust approach: in fact (i) number of different experimental conditions led to satisfactory results and (ii) the participation of two institutes to the experimental work did not impact the developed model.
The derivatization of organoarsenic compounds by different reagents like thioglycolates or dithiols and the subsequent analysis by GC–MS as a molecular specific technique was investigated and described. The possible derivatization reagents methyl- and ethylthioglycolate (TGM and TGE), 1,3-propane- and 1,5-pentanedithiol (PDT and PeDT), which transfer the polar and nonvolatile analytes dimethylarsenate (DMA), monomethylarsonate (MMA), arsenite and arsenate into volatile compounds, were evaluated. The application for real samples like fish material was also studied.
In addition the gas chromatographic separation and resolution was optimized and experiments were carried out to determine the highest derivatization rates. Derivatization reagents were evaluated in terms of quantity and stability of the formed chemical species.
All derivatization products were characterized by mass spectrometry in order to identify the separated arsenic species.
The most efficient conversion of DMA and MMA was observed by using ethylthioglycolate as derivatization agent. Finally, the derivatization procedure and the GC–MS-method were validated to determine linearity, precision, selectivity, analytical limiting values and recoveries. For the proposed method a limit of detection (LOD) of 5.8 pg for DMA and 14.0 pg for MMA was found. The accuracy was established by comparing the mean value measured for DMA in the certified reference material BCR-627 (tuna fish) with the certified one.
MMA was not quantified in marine samples due to its low content. In shrimp samples DMA was not detectable. For codfish a DMA-content of 0.20±0.004 mg kg-1, for 'Surströmming' an amount of 0.38±0.02 mg kg-1 and for herring, which showed the highest amount of DMA, a content of 1.15±0.03 mg kg-1 was determined.
We have prepared and evaluated three whole water test materials containing eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), six polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and tributyltin (TBT) with respect to homogeneity and short-term stability. The test materials were used as samples in two inter-laboratory comparisons. The materials were composed of natural mineral water and model suspended particulate matter (SPM) containing the target compounds at ng L-1 levels. The expanded uncertainty of the estimated mass concentrations in the final test materials was obtained by combining contributions from the homogeneity, the stability and the model SPM characterization.
The whole water materials were sufficiently homogeneous and stable at 4 °C for their intended use. In total, 12 out of 15 investigated target parameters could be assessed to be present with a relative combined expanded uncertainty below 25 %. The outcome of the two interlaboratory comparisons confirmed the good quality of the test materials and the level of uncertainties associated with the estimated mass concentrations. These findings are an important contribution towards the development of whole water matrix reference materials certified for PAH, PBDE and TBT in support of the Water Framework Directive of the European Union.
The European Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC requires monitoring of organic priority pollutants in so-called whole water samples, i.e. in aqueous nonfiltered samples that contain natural colloidal and suspended particulate matter. Colloids and suspended particles in the liquid phase constitute a challenge for sample homogeneity and stability. Within the joint research project ENV08 ‘‘Traceable measurements for monitoring critical pollutants under the European Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC’’, whole water test materials were developed by spiking defined amounts of aqueous slurries of ultrafinely milled contaminated soil or sediment and aqueous solutions of humic acid into a natural mineral water matrix. This paper presents the results of an European-wide interlaboratory comparison (ILC) using this type of test materials. Target analytes were tributyltin, polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the ng/L concentration range. Results of the ILC indicate that the produced materials are sufficiently homogeneous and stable to serve as samples for, e.g. proficiency testing or method validation. To our knowledge, this is the first time that ready-to-use water materials with a defined amount of suspended particulate and colloidal matter have been applied as test samples in an interlaboratory exercise. These samples meet the requirements of the European Water Framework Directive. Previous proficiency testing schemes mainly employed filtered water samples fortified with a spike of the target analyte in a water-miscible organic solvent.
Certified water reference materials are currently not available for most of the hydrophobic organic pollutants listed in the EU Water Framework Directive. To find the most suitable container type for subsequent reference material productions, feasibility studies for the preparation of waters with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and tributyltin (TBT) close to environmental quality standards in water have been performed. Due to the hydrophobic nature of these compounds and their tendency to adsorb onto container walls, an adequate selection of the most appropriate material for containment, storage and transport of water reference materials is crucial. Three different materials (aluminium, amber glass and fluorinated polyethylene, FPE) and three volumes (500/600 mL, 1000/1200 mL and 2000/3000 mL, depending on commercial availability) were tested at ng L-1 level of the target compounds. FPE shows by far the highest loss of analytes due to adsorption onto the container walls for all compounds studied. Aluminium and glass are equally suited for PAHs and PBDEs, but aluminium is unsuitable as container material for TBT due to acid cleaning requirements. The volume of the containers had no dramatic effect on the adsorption behaviour of target compounds for the different volumes tested.
The European Union (EU) has included tributyltin (TBT) and its compounds in the list of priority water pollutants. Quality standards demanded by the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) require determination of TBT at so low concentration level that chemical analysis is still difficult and further research is needed to improve the sensitivity, the accuracy and the precision of existing methodologies. Within the frame of a joint research project “Traceable measurements for monitoring critical pollutants under the European Water Framework Directive” in the European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP), four metrological and designated institutes have developed a primary method to quantify TBT in natural water using liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) and species-specific isotope dilution mass spectrometry (SSIDMS). The procedure has been validated at the Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) level (0.2 ng L−1 as cation) and at the WFD-required limit of quantification (LOQ) (0.06 ng L−1 as cation). The LOQ of the methodology was 0.06 ng L−1 and the average measurement uncertainty at the LOQ was 36%, which agreed with WFD requirements. The analytical difficulties of the method, namely the presence of TBT in blanks and the sources of measurement uncertainties, as well as the interlaboratory comparison results are discussed in detail.
Determination of tributyltin in whole water matrices under the European water framework directive
(2016)
Monitoring of water quality is important to control water pollution. Contamination of the aquatic systemhas a large effect on human health and the environment. Under the European Water Framework Directive(WFD) 2000/60/EC and the related directive on environmental quality standards (EQS) in the field of waterpolicy 2008/105/EC, the need for sensitive reference methods was highlighted. Since tributyltin (TBT) isone of the WFD listed priority substances a method was developed which is capable to qualify and quantifythe pollutant at the required low WFD EQS of 0.2 ng L⁻¹ in whole water bodies, i.e. in non-filtered watersamples with dissolved organic carbon and suspended particulate matter. Therefore special attention waspaid on the interaction of TBT with the suspended particulate matter and humic substances to obtain acomplete representation of the pollution in surface waters. Different water samples were investigatedvarying the content of organic dissolved and suspended matter. Quantification was performed usingspecies-specific isotope dilution (SSID) and gas chromatography with inductively coupled plasma massspectrometry (GC-ICP-MS). Different sample treatment strategies were evaluated and compared. Theprocess of internal standard addition was investigated and optimized, hence the equilibrium betweeninternal standards and matrix is of primary importance to perform accurate SSID. Samples spiked at EQSlevel were analyzed with a recovery between 95 and 105 %. Additionally real surface water samples wereinvestigated and the TBT concentration for the whole water body was determined and compared withconventional routine analysis method.