Conjunction of thermal lens spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography - Approach to data treatment

Dual-beam thermal lens spectrometry (TLS) is used as a detection system in HPLC. An algorithm for chromatogram handling, which is based on fast Fourie r transform, is developed. The algorithm allows a considerable increase (1. 5 to 2 orders) in the sensitivity of HPLC-TLS determinations compared with HPLC with conventional spectrophotometric detection. A comparison of the me thods for calculating the performance characteristics from peak heights (co nventional approach) and peak areas showed that the latter gives more relia ble results. The experimental set-up and developed methods were used for de termination of Co and Ni in the form of their pre-synthesised chelates with 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol; the limits of detection are 3.10(-8) and 1.10( -7) M, respectively. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.