Critical Evaluation of an Automatic Photoplate Processing System for Spark Source Mass Spectra
✍ Scribed by E. van Hoye; F. Adams; R. Gijbels
- Publisher
- Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
- Year
- 2010
- Weight
- 743 KB
- Volume
- 84
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0037-9646
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✦ Synopsis
Abstract
A system for reading and interpreting photographically recorded spark source mass spectra using a computer coupled microdensitometer is discussed. Its essential features are: (1) correction for line width, (2) correction for background, (3) possibility of converting the measured transmissions into optical densities, Seidel values or transmission factors, (4) possibility of choosing two calculation methods (the least‐squares method and the “averaging slope” method), (5) improvement of the precision of the measurements by simultaneous processing of the data relative to all the available isotopes of a single element, and (6) a continuous interaction between operator and computer allowing erroneous data to be eliminated at various stages of the processing.
A description of the commercially available program is given. The precision of the system is evaluated by repeated analyses of the same photoplate, which was obtained by the measurement of a very homogeneous standard reference sample (NBS ‐ low alloy steel). Its internal reproducibility is assessed using the known isotopic ratios of multi‐isotopic elements.