Automated methods of analysis offer economic and reproducibility advantages over manual methods. They can automate the eight typical unit operations of chemical analysis: sampling, sample treatment, separation, detection, identification, quantification, data handling, and results reporting. There are two main types of automated systems: discrete analyzers, which perform individual tests, and continuous-flow analyzers, which continuously process samples. Flow injection analysis is a type of continuous-flow method where a sample is injected into a flowing carrier stream and carried to a detector. It allows for rapid analysis and can incorporate separations like dialysis, extraction, and gas diffusion.