Apparatus for processing or preparing liquid samples for chemical analysis

An apparatus for processing or preparing liquid samples for chemical analysis, especially for flow injection analysis (FIA), comprising in combination

• a plurality of plate components, said plate components each being provided with a central throughhole and several additional throughholes that are distributed across the surface of each plate component,
• at least one of said components having a horizontally extending channel segment in the form of a groove that extends from said central throughhole towards the periphery of the respective plate component,
• said plate components being stackable in a predetermined order of arrangement one above the other such that said central throughhole and at least some of the throughholes distributed across each plate component are in alignment with respective throughholes of neighboring components, thus forming at least one interconnected fluid channel system, which extends vertically through the stacked components and includes said horizontally extending channel segment provided in said at least one of said plate components, the channel system being adapted for transportation of a fluid through the stacked plate components;
• and further comprising
• at least one integrally formed diaphragm pump, consisting essentially of two of said neighboring plate components which enclose a diaphragm arranged between them, and
• activation means for deflecting the diaphragm vertically between a first and second position such that the diaphragm pump sucks or pumps fluid through respective throughholes which are provided in one of said two neighboring plate components located next to one side of said diaphragm, and which communicate with said at least one fluid channel system.