Computer-assisted analysis of photoacoustic spectra of solid and solution state cyanide methemoglobin.

A computer-assisted method for analyzing photoacoustic spectra has been developed. Using this analysis, the relative absorption spectrum and either the chromophore concentration or thermal diffusivity characteristic of a sample can be derived from its photoacoustic spectrum. We have demonstrated the accuracy of the method by analyzing photoacoustic spectra of solution and crystalline-phase bovine cyanide methemoglobin. BASIC and FORTRAN routines used to collect and to analyze photoacoustic spectra are described. Photoacoustic spectroscopy can be used in conjunction with the analytical method presented here to obtain accurate absorption spectra from a variety of solid, opaque, and/or turbid samples.