Sodium tetraethylborate is used as a derivatizing agent for the detection of organotin, lead and mercury compounds by using gas chromatography coupled with various sensitive and selective detection methods, such as atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), atomic emission spectrometry (AES), pulsed-flame photometric detection (PFPD), and mass spectrometry (MS). It is also used as an alkylating agent.

This Thermo Scientific Chemicals brand product was originally part of the Alfa Aesar product portfolio. Some documentation and label information may refer to the legacy brand. The original Alfa Aesar product / item code or SKU reference has not changed as a part of the brand transition to Thermo Scientific Chemicals.