Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for carbon single shot analysis of micrometer-sized particles

• Published in: Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry Vol. 385; no. 2; pp. 281 - 286
• Main Authors: Vors, E, Salmon, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Berlin/Heidelberg : Springer-Verlag 01.05.2006; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aerosols/particulates; Carbon; Carbon analysis; Circuits; Diameters; Glucose; Helium; Helium cooled nuclear reactors; Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy; Laser plasmas; Lasers; Nuclear reactors; Particle size; Sample preparation; Sodium; Spectroscopy; Spectrum analysis; Vaporization
• DOI: 10.1007/s00216-006-0320-x
• ISSN: 1618-2642

The purpose of this work is to study the ability of the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique to perform in situ (without sample preparation) detection of graphite particles circulating in a gas loop used to simulate the cooling gas circuit of a helium-cooled nuclear reactor. Results obtained with a laboratory scale set up are presented. The experiments were performed in nitrogen with micrometer-sized particles containing carbon (glucose particles and sodium hydrogenocarbonate particles). Statistical shot to shot analysis was used to determine the concentration of the analyte. The variation of LIBS signal as a function of glucose particle diameter showed an underestimation of the signal of particles of diameters larger than 5 μm. This phenomenon is likely to be correlated to an incomplete vaporization in the laser-induced plasma of particles of sizes above 5 μm. Analytical measurements were performed with glucose particles and sodium hydrogenocarbonate particles, and the concentration-based limit of detection of carbon was evaluated to be about 60 μg m-³.