SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC PRECISION - A CASE BY CASE SIMULATION STUDY

The relative concentration error of a simple ''Beer's law'' spectropho tometric instrument is easily and quantitatively modeled with the use of a simulation program and custom-programmed optical and electronic c omponent blocks. The simulation data are in excellent agreement with p ublished results. The models have also been used in predictive fashion . Concentration noise was directly examined and was found to be simila r, in over-all behavior, to source flicker noise. It was also shown th at care must be exercised in the determination of the relative concent ration error, since the most straight-forward method is significantly biased.