Estimation of HSP from Group Contribution Methods

Appendix

C8

Table C8-10 Comparison of Predictive Results of Conventional, EOS, and Group Contribution Methods for HSP

In Appendix
Estimation Method

Figures

Reference

Pythagorean,
Equation C6-1

C6-2 to C6-4

C6

EOS

C7-3 to C7-5

SP Group
Contribution
Neural Network
Group Contribution

Number
Of Data Points

Sum of Squares/No. of Data

Points e Average Value
dDisperse

dPolar

dHydrogen Bonding

53

0.0604

0.6194

2.6616

C7

66

0.1204

0.0245

0.3183

C8-5 to C8-7

C8

167

0.0631

0.9371

0.5448

C8-8 to C8-10

C8

158

0.0141

0.4619

0.1787

Box C8.1
The concept of a neural network appears to have rst
been proposed by Alan Turing in his 1948 paper
Intelligent Machinery. A neural network, as used in the
referenced work, is a computer analysis scheme which
learns. Here learning is an iterative process. A
description is made of some situationdin this case
a database of HSP values for more than 1200 solvents and
a list of 158 combinations of atoms as groups within
molecules.
The neural network scheme makes an attempt to
mathematically describe the situation with functions
and empirical constants. One power of neural network
models is that they can be made to infer a descriptive
function from observations, and also then to use it. The
process of development of a useful model involves
exposing a portion of the database to the modeling
engine, allowing it to suggest functions and constants to
describe the selected portion, compare the prediction of
the outcome (here, HSP values) made by the collected
functions and constants to the information in the
database (here, involved groups of atoms), and
suggesting replacement functions and constants (the
process of learning) to better describe the one with the
other.
The learning process is repeated until the chosen
database portion is satisfactorily described (trained). Then
the unused data is added for a conrmatory analysis, and
the learning process is repeated.
Neural networks are used for pattern, face, and speech
recognition, game-playing, decision-making, ltration of
spam in email, and medical diagnosis. The application
completed here is called knowledge discovery in
databases, or data mining.

referenced in Endnote G. It is known as the Y-MB or the

HY (after its developer) method. A user identies the
structure of the solvent molecule of interest, and the algorithm computes the three HSP values11.
This author has independently evaluated the structure
for a group of 158 cleaning solvents used with the SP
group contribution procedure. HSP values were computed
with a spreadsheet after the group contribution constants
were individually copied from the commercially available
program. Results are plotted in Figures C8-8 (disperse), C8-9
(hydrogen bonding), and C8-10 (polar).

Figure C8-8 Disperse Solubility Parameter

11

Other valuable information about the solvent is also predicted by

other algorithms developed through a neural network approach. This
information includes both physical and environmental properties.

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