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10:17
Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy: A New Approach for Nanoparticle's Mapping and Quantification in Organ Tissue
Published on: June 18, 2014
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High-sensitive detection of Li and Zn in aqueous solutions using capillary effect-enhanced laser-induced breakdown
Yuanhang Wang1, Yuwei Tian1, Cong Liu1
1Department of Nuclear Physics, China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing, 102413, PR China.
Talanta
|February 17, 2025
Summary
A new capillary effect-enhanced laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (CE-LIBS) method improves detection sensitivity for lithium (Li) and zinc (Zn) in water. This technique is crucial for real-time monitoring in nuclear reactor cooling systems.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Spectroscopy
- Materials Science
Background:
- Real-time, high-sensitivity monitoring of lithium (Li) and zinc (Zn) in primary cooling water is essential for the safe operation of pressurized water reactors.
- Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) offers potential for elemental monitoring but suffers from reduced sensitivity in liquid samples due to plasma quenching.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an enhanced LIBS method, termed capillary effect-enhanced LIBS (CE-LIBS), to improve the detection sensitivity of elements in aqueous solutions.
- To investigate the signal enhancement mechanisms of CE-LIBS using titanium foam substrates.
Main Methods:
- Utilized titanium foam substrates to enrich solutes in aqueous solutions via capillary effects.
- Employed CE-LIBS to analyze the enriched solutions and assess plasma characteristics.
- Determined the limits of detection (LOD) for Li and Zn and validated the method with simulated primary cooling water samples.
Main Results:
- CE-LIBS demonstrated significant signal enhancement due to solute enrichment and increased plasma excitation temperature and electron density.
- Achieved low limits of detection for Li (0.41 ng/mL) and Zn (3.83 ng/mL), meeting reactor monitoring requirements.
- Analysis of simulated samples yielded high recovery rates for Li (92-105%) and Zn (96-102%).
Conclusions:
- CE-LIBS effectively enhances the detection sensitivity of elements in aqueous solutions without complex substrate pre-treatment.
- The method is simple, fast, and suitable for real-time, high-sensitivity elemental detection in applications like nuclear reactor coolant monitoring.
- CE-LIBS shows broad application prospects for elemental analysis in various aqueous samples.
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