Atomic spectrometric detectors for flow-injection analysis

The distinction between liquid chromatography and flow injection analysis is discussed in terms of the underlying concepts, the performance characteristics and the hardware involved. For the last aspect, attention is focused on the role of the detector and the development of spectroscopic detectors for these techniques is discussed. The limitations of atomic spectrometric detectors are discussed for the three most widely used techniques, flame atomic absorption spectrometry, plasma spectrometry and electrothermal atomisation atomic absorption spectrometry, and the recent literature concerned with the use of these techniques for chromatographic detectors is summarized. The use of flow-injection methods to extend the capabilities of the techniques, particularly as far as detection limits and matrix interferences are concerned, is discussed. These topics are illustrated by a detailed review of relevant papers from 1988 and 1989. It is concluded that there is a considerable sustained research effort in this field.