Generalized Calibration Strategy in Analytical Chemistry

Abstract

A novel calibration methodology named ‘the generalized calibration strategy’ (GCS) is presented that is aimed at verifying and improving the accuracy of analytical determinations. It is based on integration of calibration methods together with such operations as standard addition and sample dilution. At each stage of the sample dilution, the analytical result is estimated on the basis of six values, which are differently resistant to errors caused by interference and non-linearity effects. The process of stepwise elimination of both effects is controlled by comparison of these values. A dedicated flow system is presented. The GCS can be adapted to calibration by all well-known methods: conventional, internal standard, and indirect. This novel calibration strategy has been tested on indirect determination of chlorites in water samples by UV/Vis spectrophotometry.

Keywords:

• Accuracy
• Analytical calibration
• Flow injection analysis
• Interference effect
• Systematic errors

Acknowledgments

This paper was submitted as part of a Special Issue on Flow Injection Analysis.

The authors wish to thank the Ministry of Sciences and Higher Education (Warsaw, Poland) for financial support (Project No. TO9A 102 27) of the research described in this work.