Isotope Ratio Spectrometry Data Processing Software: Multivariate Statistical Methods for Hydrocarbon Source Identification and Comparison

Abstract : The IRMS Data Processing software package is designed to allow easy stable isotope data entry and multivariate data analysis. When comparing two of more hydrocarbon samples using compound-specific isotope ratio mass spectrometry, an analyst obtains multiple data variables for each sample. Multivariate statistics allows rigorous comparison(s) to determine if the samples are in fact different and if so, how closely related they are. This software uses three main types of data analyses: Multiple Analysis of Variance (MAN0VA), Principal Components Analysis (PCA), and Cluster Analysis. The layout is a standard Windows interface which should be usable to anyone familiar with modem operating system software.