Analysis of lead and sulfur in environmental samples by double pulse laser induced breakdown spectroscopy

In the present work, a model of double pulse laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) spectrometer has been developed and results from two different applications of double pulse LIBS for solving the problems of environmental interest are presented. In one case, laser induced breakdown spectroscopy has been applied to the determination of heavy and toxic metals (lead) in soil samples. In the second case, laser induced breakdown spectroscopy was used in preliminary experiments for the detection of sulfur content in coal, and on the basis of spectral features, ways to improve the sensitivity of laser induced breakdown spectroscopy detection of sulfur are proposed. The detection limit for lead in soil was estimated to be approximately 20 ppm that is lower than the regulatory standards for the presence of lead in soil. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.