Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A method and apparatus are described for the determination of an analyte in an aqueous liquid while eliminating the biasing effect of unknown interferents which are preformed or formed in situ during the determination. The method comprises physically contacting a sample of the liquid with an interactive composition for the analyte; measuring the spectrophotometric responses generated by such contact at a primary wavelength .lambda..sub.1 and one or more secondary wavelengths .lambda..sub.2, .lambda..sub.3, . . . .lambda..sub.n ; and determining analyte concentration or activity using the equation: C=a.sub.0 +a.sub.1 [A.sub.1 +.alpha..sub.1 A.sub.2 +. . . +.alpha..sub.n-1 A.sub.n ] wherein C is analyte concentration or activity, A.sub.1, A.sub.2, . . . A.sub.n are the spectrophotometric responses observed at .lambda..sub.1, .lambda..sub.2, . . . .lambda..sub.n, respectively; and a.sub.0, a.sub.1, and .alpha..sub.1, .alpha..sub.2, . . . .alpha..sub.n-1 are constants determined according to a calibrating method, also described herein. Such calibrating method is an empirical means for determining and recording in a chemical analyzer the a.sub.0, a.sub.1, and .alpha..sub.1, .alpha..sub.2, . . . .alpha..sub.n-1 constants essential for making the analyte determination.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim