MULTICOMPONENT ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MATRICES

The paper reviews several modalities of multicomponent analysis, namel y: multilinear regression by using single or multiple standards, non-l inear optimization systems by using the Gauss-Newton or the Simplex me thods and factor analysis, which have been used by the authors in rece nt papers. These multicomponent methods have been applied to environme ntal samples by different analysis techniques, such as UV- visible spe ctsrophotometry, fluorimetry, polarography-voltametry, simultaneous ki netic processes, monitoring of liquid-liquid extraction processes and HPLC (resolution of overlapped peaks). In this way, the advantages and limitations of the methodology of multicomponent analysis are shown.