Flow Injection Analysis with Atomic Spectrometric Detection

Abstract

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.