Flow Injection Analysis

Flow injection analysis (FIA) is based on the injection of a liquid sample into a moving, nonsegmented continuous carrier stream of a suitable liquid. The injected sample forms a zone, which is then transported toward a detector that continuously records the changes in absorbance, electrode potential, or other physical parameter resulting from the passage of the sample material through the flow cell.

Principally in a FIA a sample (analyte) is injected into a carrier solution which mixes through radial and convection diffusion with a reagent for a period of time (depending on the flow rate, coil length, and coil diameter) before the sample passes through a detector to a waste container. A peristaltic pump is the most commonly used pump in FIA instruments but new variants of FIA technique use computer controlled syringe pumps that generate discontinuous flow precisely choreographed to the needs of assay protocol. The result is dramatic decrease in sample consumption, reagent consumption, and waste generation. The new technologies broadened applicability of FIA techniques from laboratory serial assays to research applications and continuous monitoring of environmental and industrial processes.

In the Flow Injection Analysis (FIA) Simulation you will learn about the scientific innovation process and the flow injection analysis machine and technique. You will begin the lab by learning about FIA’s invention by Elo Hansen and Jarda Ruzicka. Next, you will explore the FIA machine and learn how the FIA machine works. Finally, you will use your knowledge about FIA to measure caffeine concentrations in various beverages.