Quantitative analysis of undefined mixtures - "fishing net" algorithm

An approach for quantitative analysis of mixtures with unknown individual responses of the components is discussed. Although it is based on a resolution of overlapping bands technique, the main emphasis is not given to the computational facets of curve fitting. A logical procedure is described, allowing estimation of the unknown concentrations in the mixture, and both the number of overlapping bands and their assignment to the components in the solution to be determined automatically. A general conclusion about the precision of the method cannot be defined, because it depends on the extent of overlapping of the individual spectra of the components and their complexity. Using this procedure a complicated three-component acid-base equilibrium of a halochromic dye in solution is studied.