title: Wavelet transform as a new approach to the enhancement of signal-to-noise ratio in anodic stripping voltammetry.
abstract: De-noising signals is a frequent aim achieved by signal processing in analytical chemistry. The purpose is to enable the detection of trace concentrations of analytes. The limit of detection is defined as the lowest amount of analyte that still causes signals greater than the background noise. Appropriate de-noising decreases only the noise and maintains the measurement signal, so that signal-to-noise ratios are enhanced. One adequate mean of signal processing for this purpose is wavelet transform, which still is not a common tool in analytical chemistry. In this paper, the ability of de-noising by wavelet transform is shown for measurements in anodic stripping voltammetry using a hanging mercury drop electrode. The calculation of limits of detection and signal-to-noise ratios on the basis of peak-to-peak noise is exercised to quantify the performance of de-noising. Furthermore, signal shape with regard of easing the application of base lines is discussed. Different wavelet functions are used, and the results are compared also to Fourier transform. Coiflet2 was found out to reduce noise by the factor of 330 and is proposed as the adequate wavelet function for voltammetric and similar signals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Analysis, Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Lessingstrasse 8, 07743, Jena, Germany. simon.prikler@uni-jena.de
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prikler
authors.forename: Jürgen W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Einax