<title>Scattering error correction of reflecting-tube absorption meters</title>

Abstract

In this paper we examine correction methods for the scattering error of reflecting tube absorption meters and spectrophotometers. We model the scattering error of reflecting tube absorption meters for different tube parameters and different inherent optical properties. We show that the only reasonable correction method for an absorption meter without attenuation measurements or a spectrophotometer is the method in which the measured absorption at a wavelength in the near infrared is subtracted. A better correction is obtained if attenuation is measured simultaneously and the absorption at the reference wavelength is multiplied by the ratio of the measured scattering at the measurement wavelength divided by the measured scattering coefficient at the reference wavelength. This is the proportional method. We showed that the important geometrical parameters of the reflecting tube can be obtained by a comparison of measurements and models of polystyrene beads. Finally, we examine the improvements that could be obtained if a direct scattering measurement were made simultaneously with the absorption and attenuation measurements.