Direct Detection of Beryllium on Filters Using the Laser Spark

Abstract

A method has been developed to spectrochemically analyze beryllium particles on filters using the laser spark. The spark, formed on the filter by a cylindrical lens, is 0.1-mm wide and 4- to 8-mm long. By the rotation of the filter under the spark, a large area can be sampled in only a few minutes. The surface detection limit (SNR = 6) for particles 0.5–5 μm in diameter is 0.45 ng/cm2, which corresponds to 3.6 ng total Be mass on the exposed area (32-mm diam.) of a 37-mm-diam. filter. The RSD for replicate sample analysis is 4%. Several methods of calibrating the technique are discussed. The effects of particle size and some contaminants on the analysis are described. The usefulness of this method for monitoring airborne beryllium concentrations is considered.

Evaluation of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for Measurement of Silica on Filter Samples of Coal Dust

“…[18][19][20][21] For filter-collected particles, detection limits are strongly dependent on chemical composition and measurement conditions. [22][23][24][25] Neuhauser et al measured 12 toxic metals collected on glass microfiber filters by LIBS with a 532 nm laser. 22 Each filter was measured 125 times with a spot size and spacing of 220 and 240 µm, respectively.…”

Determination of Heavy Metal Distribution in PM10During Asian Dust and Local Pollution Events Using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)

“…Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) can be used for real-time measurements of the elemental composition of aerosols (Cremers et al 1985;Madhavi et al 1999;Neuhauser et al 1999;Cheng 2000;Hahn and Lunden 2000;Fisher et al 2001;Panne et al 2001;Hettinger et al 2006;Mukherjee et al 2006;Kuhlen et al 2008;Park et al 2009;Diwakar et al 2012;Gallou et al 2011). Cremers et al (1985) sampled particles on a filter with subsequent analysis by the LIBS.…”

“…Cremers et al (1985) sampled particles on a filter with subsequent analysis by the LIBS. It does not require any sample preparation procedures, and measurement can be done at atmospheric pressure (i.e., no high vacuum system is required).…”

Laser-induced plasma and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) in China: The challenge and the opportunity

“…On the other hand, the ability of a laser beam to be tightly focused provides microanalysis feature of the technique. Last but not least, LIBS shares multiple elemental analysis capability with other analytical techniques based on emission spectroscopy.Staying a laboratory curiosity up to the 1980's, LIBS has found its first applications with the developments in Los Alamos conducted by Radziemski and Cremers on the detection of hazardous airborne trace metallic or nonmetallic elements [3,4]. The development in the 1990's was more spectacular thanks to the technological progresses realized in laser, in spectrometer and in detector [5].…”