2.5. Sample preparation
The filters were cut into small pieces to extract the compounds by low–temperature USE in closed containers containing 10 mL of methanol (30 min). Another advantage of the proposed method is that there are no analyte losses during sample preparation. This was confirmed in assays performed using standards and airborne samples labeled with internal standards. In all these assays, recovery rates were always over 99%.
After the samples were left to stand for 15 min in a freezer, the extracts were filtered (PTFE, 0.22 μm) and the solvent was evaporated under a nitrogen flow. Finally, the extracts were re– suspended in 1.0 mL of methanol and directly injected into the HPLC system. Field blank filters were subjected to the same procedure to confirm a lack of significant contamination. Figure 2 represents typical chromatograms obtained for the extracts from airborne particulates and standard.