Speak, a procedure for noise reduction in multichannel chromatographic data

A new procedure to reduce the background noise of multichannel chromatograp hic data, named SPEAK, has been developed. It is based on the assumption of gaussian elution profiles, but it can also deal with non-gaussian peaks. The method has been tested with simulated data matrices, containing high no ise levels, and real data matrices obtained by a fast-scanning fluorescence detector coupled to a HPLC system. Results indicate that SPEAK is able to lower the background noise by a factor of about 4 - 5, without any signific ant losses of the relevant information.