A Rapid Screening Method for the Determination of Di-(n-octyl) Tin Stabilizers in Alcoholic Beverages, Using a Heated Graphite Atomizer

A method is described for the rapid screening of di-(n-octyl) tin stabilizers in alcoholic beverages, using a heated graphite atomizer coupled to an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Benzene can selectively extract di-(ra-octyl) tin stabilizers in the presence of inorganic tin. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is used to confirm the presence of the ra-octyl grouping in a benzene extract of a plastic container and x-ray fluorescence spectrometry is used to follow the efficiency of the purification steps. The tin content of 5 types of plastic containers presently used in Canada for the storage of alcoholic beverages was obtained by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry and levels of up to 1700 μg Sn/g plastic were found. The alcoholic beverages contained therein, which included 22 samples of gin, martini, cognac, red wine, and sherry, were analyzed for di-(n-octyl) tin content. Although the method used will detect 0.04 ppm Sn, there was no evidence of leaching in any of the samples analyzed.