Microcomputer control and data system for automated multiple flow injection analysis

Introduction Flow injection analysis has been shown to be a versatile technique for the analyses of many types of samples using unsegmented continuously flowing streams. Several recent reviews have discussed a variety of aspects of this field 1-5]. The automated version of flow injection analysis (usually called automated multiple flow injection analysis or AMFIA) is attractive for those laboratories processing large numbers of samples or which require good precision, and several workers have been exploring this type of flow injection analysis [6-25]. There are three general types of AMFIA systems (Figure 1): the standard configuration with low or medium dispersion, the titration system with the large dispersion and the dilution system with low dispersion [22]. Each type of AMFIA configuration requires precise control of the sample tray, probe and sample injection valve. The dilution system also requires the operation of a fraction collector. Data must be acquired and processed by both the standard and titration systems. In this communication methods are described for the automation of all three types of AMFIA systems. The system described uses the Rockwell AIM-65 microcomputer, some associated electronics and layered user-oriented software. This work is a continuation of earlier efforts to provide full automation of AMFIA systems [22,23]. Malmstadt et al and Slanina et al have also described the use of computers for the control of FIA systems 19,24,25 ].