Determination of Iron in Water Solution by Time-Resolved Femtosecond Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

The influence of the energy of femtosecond laser pulses on the intensity of Fe I (371.99 nm) emission line and the continuous spectrum of the plasma generated on the surface of Fe³⁺ water solution by a Ti: sapphire laser radiation with pulse duration < 45 fs and energies up to 7 mJ is determined. A calibration curve was obtained for Fe³⁺ concentration range from 0.5 g/L to the limit of detection in water solution, and its saturation was detected for concentrations above 0.25 g/L, which is ascribed to self-absorption. The 3σ- limit of detection obtained for Fe in water solution is 2.6 mg/L in the case of 7 mJ laser pulse energy. It is found that an increase of laser pulse energy insignificantly affects on LOD in the time-resolved LIBS and leads to a slight improvement of the limit of detection. (paper)