Determination of Rare Earth Elements in Geological Samples Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Geochemistry
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Rare earth elements (REEs) are critical in various industrial applications.
• Accurate and efficient methods for REE detection in geological matrices are needed.
• Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) offers a rapid, in-situ analytical technique.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the capability of LIBS for detecting and quantifying REEs in natural geological samples.
• To identify specific REEs (Ce, La, Nd, Y, Pr, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy) using their emission lines.
• To develop and validate quantitative models for selected REEs.

Main Methods:

• Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was applied to geological samples.
• Emission spectra were analyzed to identify characteristic REE lines.
• Partial least squares regression (PLS-R) models were developed for quantification.
• LIBS results were compared with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) data.

Main Results:

• Detection of multiple REEs (Ce, La, Nd, Y, Pr, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy) was confirmed through spectral line identification.
• PLS-R models successfully quantified Ce, La, and Nd.
• Quantitative predictions for unknown samples showed good agreement with ICP-MS analysis.
• LIBS demonstrated reliable performance in analyzing REEs within geological materials.

Conclusions:

• LIBS is a viable technique for the qualitative detection of a range of REEs in geological samples.
• The developed PLS-R models enable accurate quantification of key REEs like Ce, La, and Nd.
• LIBS shows significant potential as a cost-effective and efficient alternative for REE analysis in mineral exploration and geological studies.