Air segmented continuous flow analysis in microbore tubing

Results from initial investigations of air-segmented continuous flow analysis (ASCFA) in microbore tubing are reported. Although excessive dispersion is limited in systems employing microbore tubing (i.e., <100 mu m), the amount of mixing is increased from the recirculating flow pattern that forms due to the air bubbles. Response signals measured as a function of flow rate, reactor length and segmentation frequency show trends similar to ASCFA in conventional sized tubing. A comparison of systems with and without air segmentation is made employing a slow reaction, an enzyme catalyzed determination of glucose. Results show that the mu-ASCFA system produces a response signal that is 1.9 times the peak absorbance of the signal obtained without segmentation. In addition, the width of the response signal obtained with air segmentation is similar to 50.0% of the width of the signal obtained without segmentation. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.