Survey of current state and probable directions of development of research activity internationally in flow analysis

These attractive features of FA have shaped the two main research directions in this area, which are closely interrelated with research carried out in the remaining 6 major themes of ARNAS:

• Miniaturization of FA, which has led to the development of lab-on-chip analysers and Micro Total Analysis Systems (µTAS).  These new technological developments in FA are based on breakthrough achievements in micromechanics (e.g. microfluidics), microelectronics and micro- and nano-sensor technology and are in the process of revolutionizing wet and gas chemical analysis.  They will allow the construction of low-cost, robust instruments for analysing exceptionally small sample volumes, which is defined as one of the grand challenges of the 21^st century in Chemical Sciences by the US Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology and falls within the designated by the ARC National Research Priority areas (e.g. Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries addressing the priority goals of Frontier Technologies and Breakthrough Science).

• Development of novel fast online pre-treatment methodologies involving selective analytical separations with high enrichment factors. These research outcomes coupled with the ultra-high sensitivity of some optical (e.g. chemiluminescence, fluorescence) and electrochemical (stripping methods) techniques will allow the detection of vanishingly small quantities of analytes, which is another 21^st century grand challenge in Chemical Sciences with direct impact on National Research Priority areas (e.g. forensic science as part of priority goal Safeguarding Australia).

Numerous Australian university researchers representing all States and Territories have contributed substantially to the development of various important aspects of FA.  These include both theoretical research and the development of FA systems employing novel separation approaches and mainly optical and electrochemical detectors based on highly sensitive and selective techniques, such as chemiluminescence and potentiometry.  These systems have been successfully applied to the detection of analytes of industrial, clinical, environmental and forensic importance.  More than 150 papers on FA co-authored by Australian researchers have been published in prestigious peer-reviewed international scientific journals over the last 10 years.  The high international reputation of Australian research in this area is also illustrated with numerous plenary and keynote lectures delivered by prominent Australian analytical chemists at international and national chemistry conferences.  Australia hosted the 9^th International Conference on Flow Analysis (Geelong. February 2003), which is the highest profile triennial international scientific event in the area of FA.

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