Gas-liquid chromatographic determination of S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate (DEF) in water and fish tissue

Methods are described for determination of S,S,S-tributylphosphorotrithioate (DEF) at levels as low as 5 parts per billion in fish and 200 parts per trillion in water. Fish tissue extracts are subjected to gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and silica gel chromatography; water samples are extracted with dichloromethane. Analyses are carried out by gas chromatography in which either electron capture or thermionic specific detectors are used. The applicability of the methods is demonstrated by analyses of water and fish samples from exposure studies.