A novel method for peak number estimation in chromatographic peak clusters

A procedure for the estimation of the number of peaks in a chromatographic peak cluster is proposed. This procedure is based on the dependence of the sum of squared errors (differences) between real and calculated chromatogra ms on the considered number of overlapped peaks. Starting with the number o f apparent peaks, chromatograms are deconvoluted successively with increasi ng numbers of peaks possibly present. The sum of squared errors decreases w ith increasing numbers of peaks up to a point beyond which the function bec omes constant. This point corresponds to the best estimation of the real nu mber of peaks present in a cluster. The procedure was successfully used for the peak number estimation in model and real chromatograms.