Spectrophotometric resolution of ternary mixtures of salicylaldehyde, 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde by the derivative ratio spectrum-zero crossing method.

A new spectrophotometric method for resolving ternary mixtures is proposed. The method is based on the simultaneous use of the first derivative of ratio spectra and measurements of zero-crossing wavelengths. The ratio spectrum is obtained by dividing the amplitudes of the absorption spectrum of the mixture by a standard spectrum of one of the components giving the first derivative of the ratio spectrum. The concentrations of the other components is then determined from their respective calibration graphs established by measuring the ratio derivative analytical signal at the selected zero-crossing points. The method has been applied to resolving ternary mixtures of the isomers salicylaldehyde, 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde. Previously, we also resolved the binary mixture of salicylaldehyde and 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde. The method compares favourably with other spectrophotometric methods.