[Rapid multi-elemental analysis on four precious Tibetan medicines based on LIBS technique]

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Spectroscopy
• Materials Science

Context:

• Precious Tibetan medicines require precise elemental analysis for quality control and authentication.
• Traditional analytical methods can be time-consuming and destructive.
• Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) presents a novel approach for rapid elemental profiling.

Purpose:

• To qualitatively analyze the elemental composition of four precious Tibetan medicines using LIBS.
• To establish specific elemental spectra for Renqing Mangjue, Renqing Changjue, 25-herb coral pills, and 25-herb pearl pills.
• To evaluate the efficacy of LIBS as a rapid and non-destructive analytical technique for ethnic medicines.

Summary:

• Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was employed for the qualitative elemental analysis of four Tibetan medicines: Renqing Mangjue, Renqing Changjue, 25-herb coral pills, and 25-herb pearl pills.
• The analysis utilized a Nd:YAG 1064 nm pulse laser to generate plasma on sample surfaces, with spectral signals detected by a spectrograph and identified using the NIST database.
• Key elements identified included Ca, Na, K, Mg, and C-N molecular bands. Specific elements like Fe, Hg, Cu, and Ag were detected in different samples, demonstrating LIBS's capability in identifying trace elements and confirming the composition of these traditional medicines.

Impact:

• LIBS provides a reliable and rapid multi-element analysis for precious Tibetan medicines.
• The technique's real-time, rapid, and non-destructive nature offers significant advantages over conventional methods.
• LIBS shows broad application prospects for elemental analysis in the field of ethnic medicines, aiding in quality assurance and research.