Genetic algorithm (GA) is being increasingly used for wavelength selection, to improve the predictive ability of partial least-squares (PLS) multivariate calibration using spectrophotometric method [1]. A spectrophotometric method for simultaneous determination of Fe(III), Al(III) and V(IV) using morin (3,5,7,20,40-penta hydroxy flavone) as a chelating agent in Triton-X100 micellar medium was developed. The parameters controlling behavior of the system were investigated and optimum conditions were selected. The linear dynamic range for determination of metal ions analyte found. The limits of detection obtained for Fe(III), Al(IV), and for V (IV) were 0.015, 0.023, and 0.040 mgmL-1, respectively. Evolutionary factor analysis (EFA) and rank annihilation factor analysis (RAFA) were applied to resolve the two-way equilibrium spectrophotometric data for the determination of stability constants of the complexes [2,3]. The number of component species was determined by factor analysis of the absorbance data. The simultaneous determination of iron, aluminum and vanadium mixtures by using spectrophotometric methods is a difficult problem, due to spectral interferences. The predictive abilities of partial least squares regression (PLS) and genetic algorithm-partial least squares regression (GA-PLS) were examined for simultaneous determination of ternary mixtures of Fe(III), Al(III) and V(IV) over the range of 17-170 ng.ml-1, 25-180 ng.ml-1 and 40-325 ng.ml-1, respectively. Absorbance data were taken between 300-500 nm in micellar medium. Applying this method to simultaneous determination of these metal ions in several synthetic alloy solutions with total relative standard error of less than 5% validated the proposed method.
