Coupling continuous flow systems to instruments based on discrete sample introduction

The interfaces between low-pressure continuous sample treatment systems and high-level information instruments such as gas chromatographs, capillary electrophoresis equipment and graphite furnace atomic spectroscopic instruments, which are characterized by conventional discrete sample introduction devices, are presented. The present and future developments are discussed of (directly) linking real samples and those analytical equipments with the main objective of avoiding or minimizing manually implemented preliminary operations of the analytical process.