Spectrus: Baseline correction and noise reduction in UV/Vis spectra

Description
Raw UV/Vis spectra can contain baseline offsets, slopes, and noise that interfere with peak interpretation. Spectrus provides tools for baseline correction and smoothing to improve data quality.

Solution

1. Load the UV/Vis spectrum in Spectrus.
2. Apply baseline correction:
   • Go to Process > Baseline > Auto
   • Check that nodes are appropriately placed to set position of new baseline.
   • Go to Process > Baseline > Edit nodes if manual corrections are needed.
   • Manually drag and drop nodes to set position of new baseline.
   • When the position of new baseline is suitable, go to Process > Baseline > Subtract.
   • Confirm that the baseline is flat in regions without absorbance.
3. Apply optional smoothing by going to Process > Smoothing > Auto:
   • Use a suitable smoothing algorithm (e.g., Savitzky‑Golay or Moving Average).
   • Select a window size that reduces noise without distorting peaks.
4. Re‑evaluate peaks:
   • Check peak positions, heights, and areas after correction.
   • Verify that important features are preserved.
5. Save the processed version and use it for:
   • Quantitative analysis (e.g., Beer–Lambert law).
   • Reporting and archiving.