Self-configuration of sequential injection analytical systems

Artificial intelligence is incorporated into a sequential injection analyzer by means of an expert system which is able to derive all the necessary parameters for the flow system to be automatically configured. The knowledge base behind the expert system is described. The expert system is applied and validated for the sequential injection determination of Ca and Mg in natural waters with spectrophotometric diode array detection and multivariate calibration. The analytical system is simple and robust and allows Ca and Mg to be simultaneously determined in the range 0–280 mg 1−1 and 0—140 mg 1−1, respectively. The method has the additional advantage of including interferences in the established multivariate model and so previous separation or masking steps are unnecessary. The throughput of the method is 20 samples per hour. The expert system gives both general and specific information so that sequential injection methodologies for different analytes and samples can be easily developed.