Flow Injection Analysis with Atomic Spectrometric Detection

The combination of flow injection analysis with atomic spectrometry has considerably extended the capabilities of conventional atomic spectrometric methods in terms of efficiency, sensitivity, economy and freedom from interferences. These improvements are mostly related to the on-line sample pretreatment and the possibility of micro-sample introduction in the detection device. The basic concepts of flow injection analysis; the basic components of the flow injection manifold as well as the main applications of flow injection analysis are presented. Special emphasis is put on the coupling of flow injection analysis with detection devices based on atomic spectrometry flame atomic absorption spectrometry, electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The possibilities and the restrictions of the separate combinations are discussed. Examples are given for the on-line flow injection separation/preconcentration-atomic spectrometric determination of a large variety of elements at trace-and ultra-trace levels in samples of complex matrix composition.