Computer applications in quantitative thin-media chromatography

Abstract

Photometric methods are an important technique for the quantitative assessment of chromatograms. To retrieve all the information contained in the primary optical signal some form of data processing is necessary, which can be carried out by analog or digital methods. Digital methods are in general more flexible and accurate. The paper discusses first the requirements for the conversion of the originally analog signal to a digital form. It proceeds then to compare the use of self-contained special-purpose hardware to that of a general-purpose computer. Decided preference is given to the latter approach and the problems of interfacing photometer and computer are considered, mainly with regard to off-line processing and intermediate data storage on magnetic tape. Finally various applications of the computer are brought forwards; integration with concurrent matching of the measured concentration distribution to a theoretical or empirical template is considered to be one of the most promising techniques.