Detection of contaminants in ore samples using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Abstract

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been applied for the determination of contaminants present in ore samples. The plasma was generated by focusing a pulsed Nd:YAG laser radiation at 1064 nm wavelength on the ore sample collected from one of the open-pit mines located in Saudi Arabia. The concentrations in this ore sample of different elements of environmental significance like Cu, Cr, Ca, Mg, Zn, Ti, Si, Fe and Al were determined by spectral analysis. Parametric dependence for improvement of LIBS sensitivity was carried out. The LIBS results were compared with the results obtained using other analytical techniques such as the inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Limits of detection (LOD) of our LIBS system were also calculated for the elements under investigation.

Keywords:

• Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)
• ore samples multi-elemental analysis
• contaminants poisoning and detection
• atomic emission plasma spectroscopy
• environmental impacts of trace metals
• analysis of geological samples

Acknowledgments

The support by the Physics Departments and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals is gratefully acknowledged. One of the author (T.H.) is thankful to National University of Science and Technology and Government of Pakistan for finacial support for his Ph.D work. He is also thankful to KFUPM for its hospitality and permission to work at its research facilties.