Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for on-line sulfur analyses of minerals in ambient conditions

Different options of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy arrangements for on-line analyses of sulfur in minerals in ambient conditions have been investigated. Depending on the sulfur concentration and the sample type, the following conditions appear as optimal: for concentration values of 20-30% (for example Cu and Ni ores, gypsum, anhydrite, and barite) it is the single-pulse option with emission in near infra-red; for concentration values of 5-10% it is the double-pulse option with emission in the green; for concentration values down to 0.2% (for example in coal) it is the single-pulse option in near VUV with a N-2 filled spectrometer. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.