Some Simple Computing Techniques
There are a number of techniques employed in the computer calculation of peak areas that should be mentioned. These techniques are used for partially unresolved peaks and are not deconvoluting routines but approximation procedures. The technique used for unresolved peaks of approximately equal heights is illustrated in figure 38. The area of the first peak is obtained by integrating from the extreme of the envelope to the minimum between the peaks. The area of the second peak is obtained in a similar manner by integrating between the minimum to the end of the envelope. Manual measurements are taken in the same manner. It is seen that the procedure would give a fairly accurate value for each peak area. In fact the method often provides more accuracy than the skimming procedure. Peak skimming is used when resolution is incomplete and it is necessary to estimate the boundary between two peaks on a sloping baseline.
Figure 38. Area Assessment of Two Unresolved Peaks of Equal Height
A simple example of peak cutting and peak skimming is given in figure 39.
Figure 39. Measurement of the Area of Two Unresolved Peaks by Peak Cutting and Peak Skimming
