Metrohm 761 Compact IC - Manual (Page 78)

4 Operation
761 Compact IC
68
4.1.2 Glossary
System
The term “system“ is used to describe the combination of instrument
settings, time program and process method which have been opti-
mized for the specific separating column and the determination to be
carried out with it. A system is used to start single determinations or de-
terminations with the help of a sample queue.
Systems are stored as system files (
*.smt ) in the Systems directory.
Method
A method contains all information necessary for data acquisition, in-
tegration, peak evaluation and quantification. It can be considered
as the chromatogram template, i.e. chromatogram without raw data.
Methods are stored as method files (
*.mtw ) in the Methods directory.
Each system is linked to a method. This method is called processing
method and is opened automatically at the start of a new determina-
tion.
Chromatogram
A chromatogram is a graphic plot of the elution curve (signal vs. time)
recorded following a chromatographic separation on a separating col-
umn.
Chromatograms are stored as chromatogram files (
*.chw ) in the Data
directory. As well as the measuring data the chromatogram files also
contain the method parameters and system settings which have been
used for data recording, data processing and remote control.
Determination
In order to carry out a determination a suitable system must be se-
lected for the separating problem. The result of the determination is a
chromatogram, in which the measuring data and results of the deter-
mination are stored.
Calibration
Calibration is used to describe the method of determining the relation-
ship between the peak height or peak area found for one component
and its concentration in the sample. The result of the calibration is a
calibration function (calibration curve), which shows the relationship
between the amount of sample and the evaluated quantity.
The determination of the calibration function with reference solutions
can be carried out as a one-point or as a multiple-point calibration.
The calibration method which is mainly used in ion chromatography is
the external standard calibration (absolute calibration); calibration
with an internal standard (relative calibration) or tabulated calibra-
tion are also possible.