Quantitative analysis of metals in liquid-flow samples by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy

Oba, Hironori  ; Saeki, Morihisa; Wakaida, Ikuo  ; Tanabe, Rie*; Ito, Yoshiro*

We applied single-pulse laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to liquid samples and evaluated detection sensitivity in both the liquid columnar flow and ultrathin sheet flow. The columnar flow of 0.52-mm diameter was prepared by a pipette-tip nozzle, whereas the ultrathin sheet flow with the thickness of 520m was produced by a trapezoidal-shaped groove nozzle. The detection limits were estimated for alkali metal elements (Na, Rb, and Cs) under the optimum experimental condition. The detection limit of Na in an aqueous NaCl solution for the sheet flow is found to be 1.1 ppb, which is ten times lower compared to that for the columnar flow. The detection limits for Rb and Cs with the sheet flow were 7.1 ppb and 33 ppb, respectively. In this presentation, the feasibility of the LIBS measurement with the sheet flow for the simultaneous determination of elements in the mixed aqueous solution is also discussed.