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We report the development of a unique laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) based method for the trace metal analysis of water. The method is further applied to the analysis of aqueous samples containing known concentrations of nickel, lead and zinc. Effects that reduce the sensitivity of the LIBS analysis of aqueous samples were avoided in the presented technology by performing the LIBS analysis from a single dried salt particle which was levitated in an electric field. The salt is added to the water sample prior to analysis. A single-droplet generator injects a droplet of the solution to the measurement chamber. The droplet is trapped using electrodynamic balance technology and metals are highly concentrated as the water from the droplet rapidly evaporates without a need for additional heating. The resultant solid 7 μm particle is levitated with a high spatial stability in the LIBS focal volume. The constant mass and position of the particle enable the high reproducibility of the LIBS signal. The limits of detection in the original solution were recorded low 60 ppb, 60 ppb, and 50 ppb for nickel, lead, and zinc, respectively using low, 14 mJ excitation pulse energy. The methodology is applicable to the online monitoring of industrial waters due to the achieved sensitivity and robust instrumentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)-based measurement method for metals in water is demonstrated. In the presented technology a small amount of sodium chloride is dissolved in the sample solution before spraying the sample into a tubular oven. After water removal monodisperse dry NaCl aerosol particles are formed where trace metals are present as additives. A single-particle LIBS analysis is then triggered with a scattering based particle detection system. Benefits are the highly increased metal concentration in the LIBS focal volume and the static NaCl-matrix which can be exploited in the signal processing procedure. Emitted light from the emerged plasma plume is collected with wide angle optics and dispersed with a grating spectrometer. In an aqueous solution, the respective limits of detection for zinc and lead were 0.3ppm and 0.1ppm using a relatively low 14mJ laser pulse energy. Zn/Na peak intensity ratio calibration curve for zinc concentration was also determined and LIBS signal dependence on laser pulse energy was investigated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]