Determination of Lead and Copper in Ligusticum wallichii by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy was used for the analysis of the Chinese traditional medicine, Ligusticum wallichii. The laser energy and delay time were optimized to obtain best spectral quality. The limits of detection for lead and copper were 15.7 and 6.3?µg?g^?1, respectively. Multiple linear regression models between the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy intensity and the mass fraction of lead and copper were constructed. Good agreement was observed between the actual concentrations and predicted values obtained by the models. These results demonstrate that the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy coupled with multiple linear regression is suitable for the determination of heavy metals in Chinese traditional medicine.     

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and chemometrics for classification of toys relying on toxic elements

Quality control of toys for avoiding children exposure to potentially toxic elements is of utmost relevance and it is a common requirement in national and/or international norms for health and safety reasons. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was recently evaluated at authors' laboratory for direct analysis of plastic toys and one of the main difficulties for the determination of Cd, Cr and Pb was the variety of mixtures and types of polymers. As most norms rely on migration (lixiviation) protocols, chemometric classification models from LIBS spectra were tested for sampling toys that present potential risk of Cd, Cr and Pb contamination. The classification models were generated from the emission spectra of 51 polymeric toys and by using Partial Least Squares - Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA), Soft Independent Modeling of Class Analogy (SIMCA) and K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN). The classification models and validations were carried out with 40 and 11 test samples, respectively. Best results were obtained when KNN was used, with corrected predictions varying from 95% for Cd to 100% for Cr and Pb.     

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of solid aerosols produced by optical catapulting

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of particles ejected by optical catapulting is discussed for the first time. For this purpose, materials deposited on a substrate were ejected and transported from the surface in the form of a solid aerosol by optical catapulting using a neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser at 1064 nm. A Q-switched Nd:YAG laser at 532 nm was used for chemical characterization of the particles by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. Both lasers were synchronized in order to perform suitable spectral detection. The optical catapulting was optimized and evaluated using aluminum silicate particles, nickel spheres, and quartz and stainless steel particles. Experimental parameters such as the interpulse delay time, the sampling distance, the laser fluence, the sampling rate and the particle size have been studied. A correlation between these parameters and the particle size is reported and discussed.     

Analysis of plutonium oxide surrogate residue using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy was used to determine the elemental composition of a CeO₂ composite powder for process control verification during lanthanide borosilicate glass fabrication. Cerium oxide is used as a surrogate for plutonium oxide, which along with other canister contents will be combined with frit to make glass. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy data for the composition of the CeO₂ batch containing concentrations of Ce, Cr, Si, Fe, Ta, Ni, Zn, Al Mg, Gd, and W were quantitatively determined from laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy spectra of both pellet and powder samples. The results of both forms were compared and it was determined that the pellet data gave slightly better precision than the powder sample.     

Determination of size, concentration and elemental composition of colloids with laser-induced breakdown detection/spectroscopy (LIBD/S)

The application of laser-induced breakdown detection (LIBD) as a new and powerful particle-analyzing technique for the determination of solubility data by monitoring initial colloid generation, when the metal ion concentration just exceeds the solubility at a given pH value, is investigated. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is used for selective analysis of an aqueous suspension of lanthanide oxide particles in the presence of the respective lanthanide aquo ion. The detection limit for aquo ion and oxide particle is determined. On the basis of the different detection limits, the LIBS technique is used to study the formation of hydroxide colloids in aqueous solution by varying the pH value until the solubility limit is exceeded. LIBS enables both qualitative and quantitative monitoring of particle formation without artifacts arising from other contaminants. LIBD and LIBS are described and compared. The advantages and disadvantages of the methods for the determination of solubility data are discussed.     

Quantitative analysis of oxide materials by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy with argon as an internal standard

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is demonstrated as a quantitative technique for geochemical analysis. This study demonstrates the applicability of LIBS to multielemental analysis of minerals using argon as an internal standard. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy has been applied to measure elements in oxide form. In the present study, the contents of several oxides, such as Fe₂O₃, CaO and MgO, in geological samples from the Tierga Mine (Zaragoza, Spain) were analyzed by LIBS. An argon environment was used to eliminate interference from air at atmospheric pressure. Furthermore, argon was used as an internal standard. The result was enhanced signal and enhanced linearity of the calibration curves. The Fe₂O₃, CaO and MgO concentrations determined by LIBS were compared with the results obtained using another analytical technique, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The concentrations found using LIBS were in good agreement with the values obtained by ICP-OES.     

1064nm激光诱导Ge(111)与Cl2反应动力学

采用超声分子束和时间分辨质谱技术研究了1064nm脉冲激光辐照下Ge(111)与Cl₂的反应动力学。实验结果表明,该反应的主要产物为GeCl₂,提高入射氯分子的平动能将增加反应速率。激光能量密度对GeCl₂产率呈指数关系,而对GeCl₂的平动温度影响不大。升高Ge(111)表面温度也能提高反应产率。同时还讨论了近红外激光诱导GeCl₂反应的机理。     

Determination of poisonous metals in wastewater collected from paint manufacturing plant using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) system was developed for determination of toxic metals in wastewater collected from local paint manufacturing plant. The plasma was generated by focusing a pulsed Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm on the solid residue from wastewater collected from paint industry. The concentration of different elements of environmental significance like, lead, copper, chromium, calcium, sulphur, magnesium, zinc, titanium, strontium, nickel, silicone, iron, aluminum, barium, sodium, potassium and zirconium, in paint wastewater were 6, 3, 4, 301, 72, 200, 20, 42, 4, 1, 35, 120, 133, 119, 173, 28 and 12 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. The evaluation of potential and capabilities of LIBS as a rapid tool for paint industry effluent characterization is discussed in detail. Optimal experimental conditions were evaluated for improving the sensitivity of our LIBS system through parametric dependence study. The laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) results were compared with the results obtained using standard analytical technique such as inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP). The relative accuracy of our LIBS system for various elements as compared with ICP method is in the range of 0.03-0.6 at 2.5% error confidence. Limits of detection (LOD) of our LIBS system were also estimated for the above mentioned elements.     

Spatial distribution profiles of magnesium and strontium in speleothems using laser-induced breakdown spectrometry

Laser-induced breakdown spectrometry (LIBS) has been applied to spatially locate several atomic species in speleothems taken from the Nerja’s Cave (Málaga, Spain). Spatial distribution profiles of Mg at 285.21 nm and Sr at 407.77 nm were obtained while the laser was rastered through different paths along the sample. These elements were selected due to their importance as palaeoclimatic indicators. The 532 nm output of a Nd:YAG laser was used to irradiate the samples and generate the plasma that was spectrally analyzed and detected by using an intensified CCD detector. The signals were normalized to the Ca line to minimize pulse-to-pulse fluctuations in the laser source. Several studies were carried out to check for the point-to-point heterogeneity of the natural speleothem.     

Pu-239/Pu-240 isotope ratios determined using high resolution emission spectroscopy in a laser-induced plasma

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been applied for the determination of plutonium isotope ratios through direct observation of atomic emission from laser-induced plasmas at high resolution. The Pu-239/Pu-240 isotope shift of −0.355 cm⁻¹ from the plutonium atomic line at 594.52202 nm (Blaise et al., The Atomic Spectrum of Plutonium, Argonne National Laboratory Report ANL-83-95, 1984) is clearly resolved in our plasma conditions. Atomic emission is dispersed through a 2-m spectrometer in double pass mode and collected on an electronically gated, intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD) camera. The integrated peak areas obtained from curve-fitting closely match the Pu-239/Pu-240 isotopic ratios obtained from standard methods of thermal ionization mass spectrometry and gamma spectrometry. The observed plutonium linewidths were 0.19 cm⁻¹ (0.0067 nm). These linewidths are within the experimental error of the ideal instrument-limited linewidth, which is calculated to be 0.15 cm⁻¹ (0.0052 nm) based upon the known modulation transfer function for the ICCD system. This linewidth should allow LIBS to be applicable for isotopic ratio measurements for all of the light actinides.     

激光诱导击穿光谱:从实验平台到现场仪器

激光诱导击穿光谱(Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, LIBS)技术利用激光实现对分析样品的快速原位剥蚀和光谱激发,是一种具有广阔应用前景的分析手段,尤其是在现场、原位分析中优势明显,快速原位的分析特点符合未来分析仪器的发展方向.近年来基于该技术开展各类仪器研发的相关工作,引起广大研究者的极大关注.本文综述了激光诱导击穿光谱仪器中关键部件的组成及发展,从便携式、手持式及远程系统三个方面综述了各类现场应用仪器的研发进展,并对未来发展方向进行了展望.     

Spatial distribution profiles of magnesium and strontium in speleothems using laser-induced breakdown spectrometry

Laser-induced breakdown spectrometry (LIBS) has been applied to spatially locate several atomic species in speleothems taken from the Nerja’s Cave (Málaga, Spain). Spatial distribution profiles of Mg at 285.21 nm and Sr at 407.77 nm were obtained while the laser was rastered through different paths along the sample. These elements were selected due to their importance as palaeoclimatic indicators. The 532 nm output of a Nd:YAG laser was used to irradiate the samples and generate the plasma that was spectrally analyzed and detected by using an intensified CCD detector. The signals were normalized to the Ca line to minimize pulse-to-pulse fluctuations in the laser source. Several studies were carried out to check for the point-to-point heterogeneity of the natural speleothem. Received: 1 August 1997 / Revised: 23 October 1997 / Accepted: 30 October 1997     

常压敞开式离子化-离子迁移谱法快速筛查玩具中14种致癌致敏染料

采用常压敞开式离子化结合离子迁移谱技术,研究建立了蜡笔、水贴纸、橡皮泥等玩具样品中14种致癌致敏染料的快速筛查方法。无需繁琐的样品前处理过程,玩具样品经纸喷雾或萃取纳升喷雾,将上样、萃取、电离等步骤集成为一步实现,并在16 ms内完成了离子迁移谱分析检测。同时还对疑似阳性样品建立了超高效液相色谱-串联质谱的确证方法。14种致癌致敏染料的检出限为0.5~2 mg/kg。该方法流程便捷、快速高效,适用于玩具样品的现场快速筛查。     

激光诱导击穿光谱在煤质检测中的应用现状

我国当前主要能源仍是煤炭资源,煤质快速检测有利于其清洁高效利用。激光诱导击穿光谱（Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy,LIBS）作为一种快速光谱检测技术,具有样品需求量小、制样简便、可多元素同时测量等优点,其在煤质快速检测中的应用潜力已得到广泛认可。本文从激光诱导击穿光谱仪器（实验室台式、在线式和便携式）的研发现状、激光诱导击穿光谱对煤质（金属元素、非金属元素和工业指标）的检测现状、煤质分析性能提升方法,以及激光诱导击穿光谱定量分析模型研究等方面介绍了近几年来LIBS技术在煤质检测中的应用现状及未来展望。     

Effect of Sample Temperature on Radiation Characteristics of Nanosecond Laser-Induced Soil Plasma

An Nd:YAG single pulse nanosecond laser of 532 nm wavelength with an 8 ns pulse width was projected on the soil samples collected from the campus of Bengbu College under 1 standard atmospheric pressure. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy at different sample temperatures was achieved. The intensity and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) changes of different characteristic spectral lines could be analyzed when the sample temperature changes. The evolution of plasma electron temperature and electron density with the sample temperature was analyzed through Boltzmann oblique line method and Stark broadening method. The cause of the radiation enhancement of laser-induced metal plasma was discussed. Experimental results demonstrated that the spectral intensity, SNR, the electron temperature and electron density of plasma are positively related to the sample temperature, and reach saturation at 100 ℃.     

The influence of laser-particle interaction in laser induced breakdown spectroscopy and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma spectrometry

Particles produced by previous laser shots may have significant influence on the analytical signal in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma (LA-ICP) spectrometry if they remain close to the position of laser sampling. The effects of these particles on the laser-induced breakdown event are demonstrated in several ways. LIBS-experiments were conducted in an ablation cell at atmospheric conditions in argon or air applying a dual-pulse arrangement with orthogonal pre-pulse, i.e., plasma breakdown in a gas generated by a focussed laser beam parallel and close to the sample surface followed by a delayed crossing laser pulse in orthogonal direction which actually ablates material from the sample and produces the LIBS plasma. The optical emission of the LIBS plasma as well as the absorption of the pre-pulse laser was measured. In the presence of particles in the focus of the pre-pulse laser, the plasma breakdown is affected and more energy of the pre-pulse laser is absorbed than without particles. As a result, the analyte line emission from the LIBS plasma of the second laser is enhanced. It is assumed that the enhancement is not only due to an increase of mass ablated by the second laser but also to better atomization and excitation conditions favored by a reduced gas density in the pre-pulse plasma. Higher laser pulse frequencies increase the probability of particle-laser interaction and, therefore, reduce the shot-to-shot line intensity variation as compared to lower particle loadings in the cell. Additional experiments using an aerosol chamber were performed to further quantify the laser absorption by the plasma in dependence on time both with and without the presence of particles. The overall implication of laser-particle interactions for LIBS and LA-ICP-MS/OES are discussed.     

Mapping of different structures on large area of granite sample using laser-ablation based analytical techniques,an exploratory study

Laser-ablation based analytical techniques represent a simple way for fast chemical analysis of different materials. In this work, an exploratory study of multi-element (Ca, Al, Fe, Mn) mappings of a granite sample surface was performed by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and subsequently by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analysis. The operating parameters (e.g. pulse energy, ablation-crater size) were optimized for both techniques in order to achieve the appropriate conditions for two-dimensional high-resolution compositional mappings of mineral microstructures in large sample areas. The sample was scanned with 100 × 100 individual sample points to map an area of 20 × 20 mm². The normalized signals were used for construct of contour plots which were colored according local distribution of the selected elements. The results of two laser-based methods were compared and found to be similar.     

Analysis of Soil by Magnetic Field Assisted Calibration-Free Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (CF-LIBS) and Laser Ablation – Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (LA-TOF-MS)

The qualitative and quantitative analysis of soil samples collected from Sialkot, Pakistan (which contains leather industrial plants), has been performed using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and laser ablation time of flight mass spectrometry (LA-TOF-MS). The focused beam of a Q-switched Nd: YAG laser (532?nm) was used to ablate the soil samples in air at atmospheric pressure. The optical emission spectra demonstrate the presence of the spectral lines of Si, Fe, Al, Ca, Ti, K, Cr, Mg, Na, Ba, and Li in all of the samples. The emission lines intensities, electron number densities, and excitation temperatures were significantly enhanced in the presence of an external 0.3 T magnetic field applied perpendicular to the plasma plume. A maximum enhancement factor of approximately 8 was observed in the emission intensity. The emergence of several additional lines has also been detected using the magnetic field-assisted LIBS approach. The elemental composition determined using calibration-free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (CF-LIBS), with and without magnetic field, reveals that the external magnetic field only adjusts the laser-generated plasma dynamics without affecting the quantitative analysis of the samples. Importantly, the toxic and heavy elements such as chromium and barium were detected and quantified in all of the soil samples by both of these techniques. The variations in the compositional analysis using CF-LIBS with and without the applied magnetic field and LA-TOF-MS were less than 10%.     

Collision‐induced dissociation study of poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) using survival yields and breakdown curves

Poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline), a synthetic polymer was analysed by mass spectrometry using different ion sources. Two distributions could be identified in the mass spectra which related to two different polymer series (one with hydrogen and hydroxyl end‐groups and the other with methyl and hydroxyl end‐groups). The fragmentation behaviour of the protonated oligomers was studied in a quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer (MS) with electrospray, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and direct analysis in real time soft ionization techniques. Three product ion series were identified in the MS/MS spectra independently of the ion source used. Based on the results, a mechanism was proposed for the dissociation by means of the accurate mass of the product ions, pseudo MS³ experiments and the energy dependence of the product ion intensity, i.e. breakdown curves. The survival yield method was used to highlight the correlation between the size of the oligomers and the laboratory frame collision energy. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Calibration free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of oxide materials

The quantitative determination of oxide concentration by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy is relevant in various fields of applications (e.g.: analysis of ores, concrete, slag). Calibration free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and the multivariate calibration are among the methods employed for quantitative concentration analysis of complex materials. We measured the intensity of neutral and ionized atomic emission lines of oxide materials by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and we modified the calibration free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy method to increase the accuracy. The concentration of oxides was obtained by using stoichiometric relations. Sample materials were prepared from oxide powder (Fe₂O₃, MgO, CaO) by mixing and pressing. The concentration was 9.8–33.3 wt.% Fe₂O₃, 7.6–33.3 wt.% MgO and 33.3–81.2 wt.% CaO for different samples. Nd:YAG laser (wavelength 1064 nm, pulse duration ≈ 6 ns) ablation was performed in air. The laser-induced plasma emission was measured by an Echelle spectrometer equipped with a sensitivity calibrated ICCD camera. The numerical calibration free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy algorithm included the fast deconvolution of instrumental function, and the correction of self-absorption effects. The oxide concentration C_CF calculated from calibration free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy results and the nominal concentration C_N were very close for all samples investigated. The relative error in concentration, |C_CF–C_N|/C_N, was < 10%, < 20%, and < 5% for Fe₂O₃, MgO, and CaO, respectively. The results indicate that this method can be employed for the analysis of major elements in multi-component technical materials.