The DNPH method145,146 is frequently used for the simultaneous analysis of formaldehyde, other aldehydes, and ketones. In acidic solution, hydrazones are formed from 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) by nucleophilic addition to the carbonyl group, followed by elimination of water (see eq 11). In sampling, air is pulled through cartridges typically containing silica gel and coated with an acid solution of DNPH (today XAD-2 is only very rarely used as adsorbent(147)). To prevent water from condensing on the surface, the cartridge is sometimes covered with C18-alkyles.(148) After sampling, the cartridge is then eluted with acetonitrile. This eluate is used directly for HPLC analysis. Chromatographic separation of the hydrazones is achieved by means of a C18 column and water/acetonitrile solvent combinations with binary or ternary gradients. UV spectroscopy is used for detection, with the absorption maxima of different hydrazones ranging from 340 to 427 nm.(146) This method is described in U.S. EPA Method TO-11A,(149) ASTM D 5197(150) and is accepted as an international standard by ISO.(151) It is also applied in several standards for the determination of the emission of formaldehyde from building products.152,153