Method for optimising a mixture of components by means of spectral analysis

A method for preparing a target product, the method comprising:

• obtaining at least one product spectral datum characterizing the target product, wherein the at least one product spectral datum defines a spectral range of the target product, wherein the target product includes n components, wherein n is an integer of at least two, wherein the target product has a set of ranges of physico-chemical characteristic values;
• obtaining at least one component spectral datum that individually characterizes each component of at least two of the n components of the target product;
• calculating a range of proportions for each of the n components to reconstitute the at least one product spectral datum of the spectral range from the at least one component spectral datum for each of the at least two of the n components of the target product;
• controlling an individual feed of each of the n components into a mixer to obtain the calculated range of proportions for each of the n components, wherein the mixer is a batch mixer or a continuous mixer, each component having an individual flow to the mixer;
• and
• mixing the n components in the mixer to obtain the target product within the set of ranges of the physico-chemical characteristic values,
• wherein the components are chemical compositions and the target product is a petroleum target product,
• wherein the controlling of the input of the n components into the mixer includes one of:
• controlling flow rates of the individual flow of the n components to the mixer;
• and
• controlling concentrations of the n component in the mixer.