Automatic and automated methods

Despite the major conceptual and operational differences between automated and automatic, these terms are frequently confused. Automated is referred to partly automated methods and automatic to fully automated ones. 

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In Table 1.1 are shown different ways of automating individual steps of the analytical process [2]. 

Automation of analyses involving liquid samples is facilitated by their usually adequate homogeneity and easy mechanical handling by use of peristaltic or piston pumps, or some other liquid management devices, i.e. a liquid driver. Nonetheless, this is not the case when dealing with solid samples, analysis of which frequently involves their prior conversion into liquids by dissolution. The dissolution step is the bottleneck of analytical processes involving solid samples, as it is frequently slow and must be performed manually. 

Earliest automatic methods used dedicated devices suited to particular applications. This restricted their scope to very specific uses such as the control of manufacturing processes or in those cases where the number of samples to be analyzed was large enough to justify the initial effort and investment required. Ideally, analytical equipment should be versatile, capable of accommodating a wide variety of assays without the need for system reconfiguration, and compatible with a wide range of detectors. 

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