Is There a Simpler, Rapider, and More Economical Method for Extracting trans,trans-Muconic Acid (T,T-MA) as Benzene Metabolite?

Among aromatic hydrocarbons, exposure to benzene, as a known carcinogen, has the highest health risk. trans,trans-muconic acid (tt-MA) is a non-toxic product of benzene metabolism. This study aimed to select a simple, rapid, and more economical method for determination of t,t-MA. This study reviewed some reported methods for extraction of t,t-MA from urine samples in order to propose the most cost-effective one. Findings: After reviewing some related literatures, four methods solid-phase extraction (SPE), liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE), and dispersive liquid-liquid micro-extraction (DLLME) were found for extraction of t,t-MA. After surveying the advantages and disadvantages of the mentioned methods, it was found that the PDLLME method can be considered as one of the most appropriate methods for detecting t,t-MA in the urine samples, due to its high recovery and easy application.