Abstract: An apparatus and method for handling flowing liquids for analytical purposes such as for introduction of liquid samples in atomic spectroscopy and carrying out a continuous flow digestion process at high temperture and pressure. The appaartus comprises a high-pressure pump for conveying a liquid from a reservoir into a tube having an elongate cavity connected to the high-pressure pump outlet. A heating device is arranged so as to heat the liquid in the cavity to a predetermined temperature and a restrictor is arranged downstream of the cavity at the opposite end of the tube. The restrictor is dimensioned relative to the conveying capacity of the high-pressure pump so that liquid in the cavity is maintained at a pressure which is higher than the saturated vapor pressure of the liquid at the predetermined temperture such that no vapor forms within the cavity.

Abstract: For nebulizing sample liquid for spectroscopical purposes a liquid to be nebulized is pressurized to a minimum pressure of 30 bar through a high-pressure pump formed as a separate unit, and is nebulized through a nozzle having a smallest flow aperture of less than 5.multidot.10.sup.-9 m.sup.2. The high-pressure pump and the nozzle are interconnected through conduits. In one embodiment the pump takes in pure solvent. The sample is taken in on the high-pressure side through a loop, which is arranged to be connected between pump and nozzle.