Flow injection analysis (FIA) is a microchemical technique used for chemical analysis of sample materials in a carrier liquid stream. It is used in various industries, including food, beverage, pharmaceutical, agriculture, and environmental monitoring. FIA is an inexpensive, quick, and automated process that offers many advantages over traditional tube and beaker analysis. It is used to detect the presence of toxic substances in water, perform soil tests, and help pharmaceutical companies meet stringent drug quality control regulations.
Flow injection analysis (FIA) is a microchemical technique, developed in Denmark and the United States, for performing chemical analysis of sample materials in a carrier liquid stream. This computer-compatible process has become the most popular type of flow analysis and replaces manual methods using laboratory tubes and beakers. FIA is used in the monitoring of industrial processes in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries; in agriculture; in environmental monitoring, such as analyzing water contamination; and in the life sciences.
In a flow injection system, the reagents, along with a carrier solution, are pumped through the tubes in a continuous fashion, mixing the coils and the flux center in the detector. A reagent is a substance used in chemical reactions to detect, measure or produce other substances. A small sample of the substance to be tested is injected into the liquid solution where it combines with one or more reagents. The resulting chemical reaction causes a color change which is measured in the detector. The whole process can be done in about a minute with a much smaller sample than required in manual processes.
A variety of flow injection analysis equipment is available. The simplest forms are inexpensive, manually operated units used to conduct inexpensive analyzes or tests to determine the presence of a chemical or substance. More complex and fully automated systems are offered for biomolecule analyses, such as the determination of hormone levels in the blood. Automated systems range from cost-effective single-chamber units to much more complex multi-chamber configurations needed for tougher applications.
Stream injection analysis has become an inexpensive method of detecting the presence of toxic substances in rivers or wastewater. Tests are conducted near industrial sites to monitor whether pollutants are released. Existing FIA methods can detect the presence of ammonia, arsenic, mercury, cyanide, phosphate and nitrate in water.
Agriculture and forestry also use flow injection analysis to perform soil tests. On-site soil testing can be very useful for site-specific crop management. Based on the test results, growers can determine which nutrients may need to be replenished to achieve maximum crop yield. Forest departments use the FIA to determine soil health in state and national forests.
Flow injection analysis has been instrumental in helping pharmaceutical companies meet stringent drug quality control regulations. Several samples are taken from each batch of drug and tests are conducted to make sure the potency is stable; if a prescription calls for 250 mg of penicillin, it is important that each capsule contains exactly that amount. The FIA is also used to test the levels of vitamins, hormones and chemicals in the blood. Biologists use FIA to study live cells, monitor chemical processes, and study how the body makes antibodies when substances called antigens are introduced.
Flow injection analysis offers many advantages over traditional tube and beaker analysis. The procedure is inexpensive and quick, often producing results in less than a minute. Automated liquid flow provides a uniform test environment and offers an extra layer of protection for technicians when handling or testing toxic substances. The equipment is also computer compatible, providing faster analysis by limiting possible data entry errors in manual testing.
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