Design of a multi-channel dropping segmenter for liquid-liquid extraction continuous flow-injection analysis

A simple dual-channel dropping segmenter was used for the simultaneous introduction of aqueous solutions of a sample and an organic analytical reagent directly into a continuous flow of an immiscible organic solvent. Droplets of precisely defined volume of the homogeneous reaction mixture are formed at the junction of the inlet capillary system. Reaction and extraction take place simultaneously in the individual segments of the aqueous phase during the transport through the reaction/extraction coil. An analytical signal is measured by an “on-tube” fast-reading spectrophotometric detector and processed mathematically. The applicability of the method is demonstrated with the determination of Cu(II) ions with tetramethylene-dithiocarbamate in neutral medium in 0.1 M ammonium acetate buffer.