Multicomponent flow injection based analysis with diode array detection and partial least squares multivariate calibration evaluation. Rapid determination of Ca(II) and Mg(II) in waters and dialysis liquids

Flow injection analysis (FIA) with multiwavelength scanning of the FIA peaks using a diode array detector (DAD) has been combined with a multivariate calibration approach applying the partial least squares (PLS) method for the data evaluation. In this way, various side effects like dilution of the reagent, high blank absorbance changes due to the pH gradient throughout the peak and/or the other interferences can be accounted for. Thus, even with a simple FIA manifold instrumentation the satisfactory results of multicomponent analysis are obtained. The method described has been checked on analysis of binary (Ca and Mg) and ternary (Ca, Mg and Cu) mixtures with pyridylazo resorcinol (PAR) as reagent and applied for rapid determination of calcium and magnesium in dialysis liquids and waters.