Complete System for LIBS for heavy metals detection in soil and waters

LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) System is transportable within the laboratory and in situ for environmental diagnostics. It is specifically designed for on field measurements, providing Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) measurements.

The system is based on a Quanta System Nd:YAG laser with > 300mJ per pulse @ 1064nm.

For easy measurements, the laser beam is delivered to the target to be observed, by mean of a seven mirrors articulated arm, with focusing optics placed at the end to produce the plasma. The emitted plasma radiation is collected by a 50mm wide objective lens and focused into a bundle of 100mm core fibers. The bundle is interfaced to a polychromator coupled to an ICCD (Intensified CCD) camera. A 2400 g/mm holographic grating is used in the LIBS configuration.

The whole system is fully controlled by a PC, integrated in the system, that turns out to be easily transportable. A specific user friendly software has been developed both for spectra acquisition and analysis. Up to date the system has been successfully tested as an environmental diagnostic tool for fast qualitative and quantitative analysis of heavy metals in soil and waters. Field sensitivity up to 1-10 ppm has been achieved for the following heavy metals:

* sensitivity is better than 10 mg/kg with an accuracy better than ±15%

System is composed  by :