5. Conducting an analysis

When it comes to routine analyses, procedures are generally written down in a document. Software can be configured for these analyses. Procedures must include sample preparation and storage, where errors can be much greater than the uncertainties associated with the measurement itself! In "online" analysis, errors depend mainly on the location of the measurement point and the nature of the sample: bubbles, particles, dirt, etc.

In the field of molecular absorption spectrophotometry, it can be said that technology has evolved little for sequential devices, and that it has not brought about any significant improvements in obtaining spectra – except for the analysis time – for devices with inverted optical mounting. Improvements in the quality of results have been achieved mainly through the use of computational methods and compliance with written procedures. These...