We present a novel automated system for real-time measurements of water-soluble reactive phosphate (SRP) ions in atmospheric particles. Detection of SRP is based on molybdenum blue chemistry with Sn(II) chloride dihydrate reduction. The instrumentation consists of one particle-into-liquid sampler (PILS) coupled with a 250 cm path length liquid waveguide capillary cell (LWCC) and miniature fiber optic spectrometer, with detection wavelength set at 690 nm. The detection limit was 0.4 nM P, equivalent to 0.03 nmol P m(-3) in atmospheric particles. Comparison of SRP in collocate PM2.5 aerosol filter sampling with the PILS-LWCC on line system were in good agreement (n = 49, slope = 0.84, R(2) = 0.78). This novel technique offers at least an order of magnitude enhancement in sensitivity over existing approaches allowing for SRP measurements of unprecedented frequency (8 min), which will lead to greater understanding of the sources and impacts of SRP in atmospheric chemistry.