title: Note: A portable laser induced breakdown spectroscopy instrument for rapid sampling and analysis of silicon-containing aerosols.
abstract: A portable instrument has been developed for measuring silicon-containing aerosols in near real-time using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The instrument uses a vacuum system to collect and deposit airborne particulate matter onto a translatable reel of filter tape. LIBS is used to analyze the deposited material, determining the amount of silicon-containing compounds present. In laboratory testing with pure silica (SiO2), the correlation between LIBS intensity for a characteristic silicon emission and the concentration of silica in a model aerosol was determined for a range of concentrations, demonstrating the instrument's plausibility for identifying hazardous levels of silicon-containing compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Seattle University, Seattle, Washington 98122, USA.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seattle University, Seattle, Washington 98122, USA.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH), Spokane, Washington 99207, USA.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: TSI, Inc., Great Falls, Montana 59405, USA.
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Stipe
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seattle University, Seattle, Washington 98122, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kearns
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seattle University, Seattle, Washington 98122, USA.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Prier
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Seattle University, Seattle, Washington 98122, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Rarick