Analysis of Dibutyltin Compounds in Polyvinyl Chloride Products by GC/MS

Introduction

Organotin compounds are used widely throughout the world in pesticides, fungicides, wood preservatives, and adhesives. Since organotin compounds are also added to plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for thermal stabilization and stabilization against catalytic activity, dibutyltin (DBT) compounds in PVC are now subject to a standard limit established in Japan's Food Sanitation Act. In the material testing1) of this material in its food packaging form, the DBT peak elution time and area value in the test solution and standard solution are compared, and the peak area in the test solution must be smaller than that in the standard solution (concentration of 50 μg/g or less in sample; corresponding to a concentration of 1 μg/mL standard solution). In this Application News, we introduce an example of analysis of DBT compounds in a PVC product.

November 25, 2010 GMT