STRUČNÁ HISTORIE A SOUČASNOST PRŮTOKOVÉ INJEKČNÍ ANALÝZY A KAPILÁRNÍ ELEKTROFORÉZY V ČESKÉ REPUBLICE

Significance of the Topic

Flow injection analysis (FIA) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) represent landmark innovations in analytical chemistry. FIA introduced rapid, reproducible, and reagent-efficient workflows, while CE enabled high-resolution separation of ions and biomolecules. Together, they underpin modern high-throughput, miniaturized, and automated assays across environmental, clinical, pharmaceutical, and industrial laboratories.

Objectives and Overview of the Article

This article reviews the historical development, key milestones, and current status of FIA and CE in former Czechoslovakia and today’s Czech Republic. It highlights pioneering local contributions, international collaborations, and the evolution of instrumentation, methods, and applications from the 1970s to the present.

Methodology

A comprehensive literature and archival survey was conducted, tracing original patents, national and international publications, and conference proceedings. Chronological milestones were identified, and leading research groups and their contributions were mapped.

Instrumentation Used

• Early FIA analyzer: faculty-built manifold with peristaltic pumps, mixing coils, and SPEKOL photometer.
• Commercial flow systems: FIA-20 (Czechoslovak production), FIAlab and GlobalFIA units.
• SIA and SIC platforms: sequential injection manifolds coupled to HPLC, GC, and spectrophotometric detectors.
• Capillary electrophoresis setups: LKB isotachophoretic instruments, home-built contactless conductivity detectors (C4D), and CE-MS interfaces.

Main Results and Discussion

Key milestones include the invention of FIA in 1975 by Růžička and Hansen, the first Czech FIA prototypes in the early 1980s, and the inaugural Anal. Chim. Acta publication in 1989. The 1990s saw international integration at ICFIA meetings and the birth of SIA. CE gained momentum through theoretical advances (Everaerts, Boček, Gebauer), innovative detectors (Zuska, Gaš), and coupling to mass spectrometry. Czech teams pioneered monolithic column SIC, Lab-in-Syringe extraction, and diverse microextraction methods.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• High-throughput routine assays for nutrients, pollutants, and clinical biomarkers.
• Automated sample preparation (SPE, LLE, Lab-in-Syringe) coupled online to chromatographic and spectrometric detectors.
• Minimal reagent consumption, robust reproducibility, and flexibility for new reagent protocols.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Emerging directions include tighter integration of flow analysis with microfluidic separations, additive-manufactured components, advanced detectors (nanofiber sorbents, 3D-printed manifolds), and AI-driven data analysis. Regional V4 collaboration will foster cross-border project synergies and training, accelerating method standardization and industrial adoption.

Conclusion

Czech scientists have played a central role in shaping FIA and CE, from early laboratory prototypes to sophisticated modern platforms. Continued innovation, international cooperation, and interdisciplinary training will ensure these methods remain at the forefront of analytical science.

References

1. Růžička J., Hansen E. H.: Anal. Chim. Acta 78, 145 (1975).
2. Everaerts F. M., Vacík J., Zuska J.: J. Chromatogr. 60, 397 (1971).
3. Solich P. et al.: Anal. Chim. Acta 218, 151 (1989).
4. Wu C.-H., Scampavia L., Ruzicka J.: Analyst 127, 898 (2002).