AbstractA method is described for the analysis of solutions containing inorganic tin and butyltin compounds. It can be used to determine total tin at a concentration of 20 ng dm−3using a 5 dm3sample. The method is based on solvent extraction with dichloromethane containing tropolone and determination of the tin as inorganic tin by atomic absorption spectroscopy using electrothermal atomization. The extracted butyltin compounds can be separated by paper chromatography and the tin content of the individual spot determined as above. Observations on the stability of butyltin compounds in water at the ∼2 mg dm−3(Sn) are inc