Quality of resolution of black multicomponent systems Original Research Article

In this work, we define the quality of selective regions in a data matrix acquired by two-way instrumental methods. We name the quality parameter as the accumulated analytical signal (AAS) and link this quality measure to the resolution quality. The AAS is calculated as the first singular value divided by the second from a singular value decomposition of the selective region. We also extend this measure to systems containing more than two analytes and define the quality of zero-concentration windows (ZCWs). These regions are crucial in the resolution step. The quality parameter of this region is named as the net accumulated analytical signal (NAAS). It is calculated as the last significant singular value divided by the first non-significant singular value from a singular value decomposition of the ZCW. Since it is sometimes difficult to decide the elution regions by local rank analysis, we introduce a shifting procedure. The different elution regions are shifted and the system is resolved using the new elution windows. Indication of a good resolution is found when a stable solution appears.