title: Laser ablation-laser induced breakdown spectroscopy for the measurement of total elemental concentration in soils.
abstract: The performances of traditional laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and laser ablation-LIBS (LA-LIBS) were compared by quantifying the total elemental concentration of potassium in highly heterogeneous solid samples, namely soils. Calibration curves for a set of fifteen samples with a wide range of potassium concentrations were generated. The LA-LIBS approach produced a superior linear response different than the traditional LIBS scheme. The analytical response of LA-LIBS was tested with a large set of different soil samples for the quantification of the total concentration of Fe, Mn, Mg, Ca, Na, and K. Results showed an acceptable linear response for Ca, Fe, Mg, and K while poor signal responses were found for Na and Mn. Signs of remaining matrix effects for the LA-LIBS approach in the case of soil analysis were found and discussed. Finally, some improvements and possibilities for future studies toward quantitative soil analysis with the LA-LIBS technique are suggested.
authors.affiliation: Bioprocesos y Flujos Reactivos, Facultad de Minas, Universidad Nacional de Colombia-Sede Medellín, Carrera 80, Medellín No. 65-223, Colombia.
authors.forename: Jhon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pareja
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jaramillo
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molina
mesh_terms: D007834:Lasers; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D012987:Soil