“…The aqueous sample is added to the top of the column, adsorbed, and distributed into a film over the diatomaceous earth, which is an hydrophilic packing porous material which acts as support for the aqueous phase. The high surface area of the inert diatomaceous earth ensures that the organic eluents remain immiscible with the aqueous matrix, eliminating emulsion problems, and facilitating efficient interaction between the sample and the organic solvent [24,25]. However, for STA purposes where acidic, neutral, and basic substances may be present, this type of SPE must be carried out with at least two columns: one for the acidic and neutral substances and one for basic and neutral substances and often large volumes of hazardous organic solvents are required [2].…”