Method for non-targeted characterisation of a solution comprising a plurality of solutes

A method for characterising a solution S0 comprising a plurality of solutes, which comprises at least the steps consisting in:

• a) subjecting the solution S0 to a sequence of N rows i of partitions, i ranging from 1 to N and N being greater than or equal to 2, the rows i of partitions comprising:
• for i=1, a mixture of a sample of the solution S0 with a volume of an organic Sorg or aqueous Saq solution immiscible with the solution S0 to obtain, after separation of the mixture into two phases, an aqueous phase φ(i=1,aq) and an organic phase φ(i=1,org);
• and
• for i=2 to N:
• a mixture of each aqueous phase φ(i−1,aq) with a volume of the solution Sorg to obtain, after separation of the mixture into two phases, an aqueous phase φ(i,aq) and an organic phase φ(i,org);
• a mixture of each organic phase φ(i−1,org) with a volume of the solution Saq to obtain, after separation of the mixture into two phases, an aqueous phase φ(i,aq) and an organic phase φ(i,org);
• b) subjecting all the aqueous and organic phases obtained at the row N to a measurement of an extensive and conservative quantity X to obtain an experimental vector {right arrow over (V)}exp comprising 2N measured values of X;
• c) defining theoretical vectors {right arrow over (V)}theor(Dk) for y partition coefficient values Dk, with y greater than or equal to 2 and k ranging from 1 to y, each theoretical vector comprising 2N values of X calculated for the aqueous and organic phases obtained at the row N and for one of the y values Dk;
• d) carrying out a parametric adjustment between the vectors {right arrow over (V)}theor(Dk) and the vector {right arrow over (V)}exp to obtain a distribution of the solutes of the solution S0, which contribute to the 2N measured values of X, as a function of to the y values Dk.