Flow-injection analysis as a tool for determination of pharmaceutical residues in aqueous environment

Numerous reported applications of flow-injection analytical methods in pharmaceutical analysis concern quality control of pharmaceutical preparations, investigation of dissolution of particular formulations and process control of production of pharmaceuticals. In recent decades an important environmental problem is increasing level of pharmaceutical residues in aqueous environment. The analytical determination of those residual compounds requires of the use a very selective method of a very low limit of detection. Appropriate selection of extraction and preconcentration methods for on-line sample processing and suitable detection allows the development of flow-injection analysis methods for such analyses. Especially satisfactory for this purpose is the application of a measuring system combining flow-injection systems for on-line sample processing with liquid chromatography.