Spectrophotometry zero-crossing first derivative

Because of peak overlappings in the first- and second-derivative spectra, conventional spectrophotometry cannot be applied satisfactorily for quantitative analysis, and the interpretation cannot be resolved by the zero-crossing technique. A chemometric approach improves precision and predictability, e.g., by the application of classical least sqnares (CLS), principal component regression (PCR), partial least squares (PLS), and iterative target transformation factor analysis (ITTFA), appropriate interpretations were found from the direct and first- and second-derivative absorption spectra. When five colorant combinations of sixteen mixtures of colorants from commercial food products were evaluated, the results were compared by the application of different chemometric approaches. The ITTFA analysis offered better precision than CLS, PCR, and PLS, and calibrations based on first-derivative data provided some advantages for all four methods. ... 

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