Principal component analysis applied to the study of successive complex formation data in Cu(II)-ethanolamine systems

Application of principal component analysis to Cu(II)–ethanolamine complex formation data is shown. Determination of the number of complex species is obtained from the rank of the matrix of spectral data using either Gauss elimination or factorial analysis. Relevant information concerning species distribution versus pH is obtained from the plot of the signficant factors upsurging from the evolution of spectral titration data.