A novel flow injection-gas-diffusion (GD-FI) system has been developed for the on-line analysis of ammonium ion in waters with fluorimetric detection, using an acceptor solution containing the Eosin-Bluish (EB) acid-base indicator. This, together with optimization of the process of gas transfer through the membrane, increases the sensitivity of the method to a considerable extent. Under optimum conditions, it is possible to determine the analyte within the 0.02-1.5 mg l(-1) range, with a limit of detection of 5 microg l(-1) and relative standard deviations (n = 12, [NH (4) (+) ] = 50 microg l(-1) and 0.05 microg l(-1)) of 3.4% and 3.0% respectively. The determination rate was 15 samples per hour.