RECAS: A RULE BASED EXPERT SYSTEM FOR CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF SALTS

Abstract

Knowledge-based expert systems or Knowledge-based systems employ human knowledge to solve problems that ordinarily require human intelligence (1). Knowledge systems represent and apply knowledge electronically. In the near future, these capabi-lities of knowledge_ .base-d -systems will ultimately make them vastly more powerful tool than the earlier technologies for storing and transmitting knowledge namely books and conventional programmes. [2] This thesis addresses the problem of design, deve-lopment and implementation of a Rule Based Expert System for the Chemical Analysis of Salts (RECAS). The proposed system has about hundred rules for the selection and analysis of salts and has been implemented in GCLISP for running on personal computers. The proposed system can be divided into three modules viz :- (i) Inference Module. (ii) Rule-acquisition Module. (iii) Explanation Module. (i) The Inference Module through its simple user interface communicates with the user and can infer about four radicals present in the salt mixture (i.e. two acid and two basic radicals). At the same time it supports its conclusion by giving explanation for the same.