Flow-based food analysis: an overview of recent contributions

Abstract

Analysis of food and beverages (e.g. determination of nutrients, additives, and contaminants) is benefited by the advantages provided by flow systems such as high precision and sampling rate, as well as low reagent consumption and waste generation. Flow manifolds have been based on several detection techniques (e.g. luminescence, spectrophotometry, electroanalysis, and mass spectrometry), and have been employed for sample handling and chemical derivatization also coupled to separation techniques. Time-consuming steps such as sample preparation and calibration, including exploitation of the standard addition method have been performed on-line in a faster and cleaner way. In addition, flow systems are advantageous for the use of modified electrodes, biosensors, and optosensors. This review is focused on the critical evaluation of the potential of selected flow-based analytical systems for food analysis, highlighting the applications after 2012.