A REVIEW OF THE MAIN FACTORS INFLUENCING THE FT-IR-PLS ABILITIES EXEMPLIFIED WITH PETROCHEMICAL QUALIMETRIC APPLICATIONS

Quality control usually involves monitoring several variables directly related with industrial necessities using univariate tests. One power ful alternative is to link multivariate analytical techniques and mult ivariate chemometrics. In this way, Fourier Transform Infrared spectro scopy and Partial Least Squares regression are used to discuss and rev iew several advantages and drawbacks encountered in using such combina tion in industrial facilities. Typical drawbacks are selection of data pretreatment, errors in reference methods, selection of calibration a nd Validation sets and model-aging. This review is exemplified with pe trochemical applications although other fields are also considered (ma inly when dealing with data pretreatment). (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B .V.