Determination of organo-zinc based fungicides in timber treatments employing gas chromatographic analysis with mass selective detection and/or inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy

A method for the determination of zinc octoate (zinc 2-ethylhexanoate) and acypetacs zinc in occupational hygiene samples and wood treatments formulations is described. The zinc carboxylates are liquid–liquid partitioned between toluene and 1 M HCl, with the liberated acids being extracted into the toluene and zinc (chloride) into the acid. The carboxylic acids are then methylated using trimethylsilyldiazomethane–methanol and the resultant methyl esters are selectively and sensitively analysed by gas chromatography with mass selective detection (GC–MS). Alternatively, the zinc content of the acid extract can be analysed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP–AES). GC–MS is the preferred method of analysis for zinc octoate, where a single analyte (methyl-2-ethylhexanoate) is produced for analysis. Because acypetacs zinc contains a complex mixture of carboxylates, quantitative GC–MS analysis of the methyl esters produced is impractical and ICP–AES is the preferred method for quantitation. In this case, GC–MS can be used to confirm the identity of the product used. The analysis of occupational hygiene samples (cotton pads, gloves and socks as well as Tenax tubes and GF/A filters) spiked with metal carboxylates is demonstrated. Recoveries around 70–90% and reproducibilities of 5–23% (n=6–8) were typically achieved for the determination of tin octoate (a surrogate for zinc octoate) at spiking levels ranging from 4 to 190 μg per sampling device. Recoveries around 102–106% and reproducibilities of 10–12% (n=5–6) were typically achieved for acypetacs zinc at spiking levels ranging from 100 mg per sampling device. Reaction yields for the octoate methylation reaction were in the region of 85–87%. The method was used to monitor for occupational exposure to zinc octoate and acypetacs zinc during the application of wood treatments to fences.