Multivariate data analysis for x-ray fluorescence spectrometry

A multivariate data analysis procedure that uses singular value decomposition and the Ho-Kashyap algorithm is proposed to obtain calibration constants for x-ray fluorescence spectrometry. These calibration constants can be used to obtain results from experimental data by means of a simple dot product calculation. The method was tested on experimental data from the literature. Comparison of results showed that the method performs at least as well or better than the Rasberry-Heinrich method or its modifications. The method can be used to express calibration results obtained with a theoretically based program in such a way that they can be used conveniently in routine applications.