Conclusions
Global analysis provides a relatively simple and robust alternative to single-wavelength decomposition as method for analyzing the drying progress of air-drying coatings. By applying this technique to data collected on linseed oil using several related driers, we were able to identify and track the formation a cis-trans conjugated intermediate during the drying process, which was previously predicted to form based on studies of model complexes. Our observations of the formation and consumption of this intermediate indicate identical rate constants for these reactions, strongly suggesting the same fundamental reaction for both steps. To the best of our knowledge, no mechanisms incorporating this possibility have been previously proposed in the literature (Orlova et al. 2021). Our hope is that application of global analysis to studies of drying oils, both future and existing, will enable more insights into the mechanism of this critical process.