During the last few years,various flow-based separation/preconcentration methodologies have gained pertinent novel advances and exhibited powerful capability in the field of sample pretreatment and their hyphenation with detection by atomic spectrometry.The present mini-review presents and discusses the progress of flow-based sample processing approaches commonly used for the assay of trace elemental species with detection by atomic spectrometry,including preliminary sample pretreatment,solid phase extraction(including solid phase microextraction),liquid-liquid extraction,vapor generation and dialysis techniques.Special emphasis has been paid on the novel applications and analytical procedures hyphenated with atomic spectrometry.The future perspectives of flow-based sample pretreatment protocols in the determination of trace elements and their speciation are also discussed. During the last few years, various flow-based separation / preconcentration methodologies have gained pertinent novel advances and demonstrated powerful capabilities in the field of sample pretreatment and their hyphenation with detection by atomic spectrometry. Present present-review presents and discusses the progress of flow -based sample processing approaches commonly used for the assay of trace elemental species with detection by atomic spectrometry, including preliminary sample pretreatment, solid phase extraction (including solid phase microextraction), liquid-liquid extraction, vapor generation and dialysis techniques. paid on the novel applications and analytical procedures hyphenated with atomic spectrometry. the future perspectives of flow-based sample pretreatment protocols in the determination of trace elements and their speciation are also discussed.