A small expert system for solid phase extraction

Abstract This article provides an example of a small expert system. The system advises on the solid phase extraction of drugs from aqueous samples or plasma. The selection of the eluent is based on certain drug characteristics, the subsequent analysis parameters and the analyte's concentration in the sample and/or its detectability. Production rules are derived for implementation with the expert system shell KES. The knowledge acquisition as well as the implementation itself (the different sections in KES and its hierarchy) are discussed. It is concluded that it is feasible to make a small expert system for advice on method development.