A 2ND-ORDER STANDARD ADDITION METHOD WITH APPLICATION TO CALIBRATION OF A KINETICS-SPECTROSCOPIC SENSOR FOR QUANTITATION OF TRICHLOROETHYLENE

Presented here is an algorithm for analysis of second order data by the method of standard additions. The method of standard additions is applicable when matrix effects make traditional calibration unreliable. The algorithm employs a generalized eigenproblem to mathematically separate the instrument response of the analyte from the instrument response of any interfering species. A scheme for determining the eigenvectors (and hence the concentration estimate) that uniquely correspond to the analyte of interest is given. These eigenvectors can readily be distinguished from any eigenvector that corresponds to the spectrum of the interferents or both the interferents and analyte. The stability of the estimated analyte concentration is verified by Monte Carlo simulations. The algorithm is applied to the analysis of trichloroethylene in samples that have matrix effects caused by an interaction with chloroform.