How flow-injection analysis (FIA) over the past 25 years has changed our way of performing chemical analyses

Briefly looking back on the impact of flow-injection analysis (FIA), as reflected in the rapid growth of publications in the scientific literature, and touching upon many of the novel and unique analytical chemical possibilities that FIA and its sequels, sequential injection analysis (SIA) and lab-on-valve (LOV), have offered, we emphasize assays based on kinetic discrimination schemes, where, even subtle differences in the reaction rates of the chemical reactions that occur are judiciously exploited. We give a number of examples, covering homogeneous as well as heterogeneous conversion techniques, determinations of low. levels of metals in complex matrices via suitable pre-treatment procedures, and soil-fractionation schemes. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.