Application of flowing-stream techniques to water analysis Part II. General quality parameters and anionic compounds: halogenated, sulphur and metalloid species.

In the first part of this review [Talanta 60 (2000) 867], flowing-stream methods (namely, segmented flow analysis (SFA), continuous-flow analysis (CFA), flow-injection analysis (FIA), sequential-injection analysis (SIA), multicommuted flow-injection analysis (MCFIA) and multisyringe flow-injection analysis (MSFIA)) were presented as powerful analytical tools for nutrient determination in water samples when coupled to photometric/fluorimetric detection, flow-through ion-selective electrodes or amperometric sensors. In the present paper, relevant flow methods applied to the monitoring of anionic species as well as to the determination of general parameters for water quality evaluation (such as pH, alkalinity, chemical and biochemical oxygen demand, conductivity and total ionic content) are reviewed, and their background, detection technique and noteworthy analytical features are detailed. Furthermore, other techniques, such as flow systems connected to hydride-generation atomic absorption spectrometry, should be highlighted as practical approaches for metalloid determination since a series of speciation schemes are demonstrated to be readily adaptable.