Current trends in sample preparation for the determination of primary aromatic amines in environmental samples

Primary aromatic amines (PAAs) are a large group of organic compounds characterized by the presence of an amino group attached to one or more aryl substituents. These compounds are released into the environment from diverse sources, and have been of concern because of its carcinogenic and mutagenic activity. Therefore, their quantification is essential to obtain information on their presence and, therefore, to reduce the harmful effects on humans. Sample preparation techniques play an outstanding role in the development of analytical methods to achieve this goal. Mainly, sorbent-based extraction and solvent-based microextraction techniques have been applied for the sensitive determination of PAAs in environmental matrices. This review covers articles based on the development and application of such techniques for the extraction and preconcentration of these compounds in water, soil and air samples, published between 2010 and 2022. In addition, the recent advances and future challenges in applying these techniques for extracting PAAs are discussed.