Development of a Stand-off Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (ST-LIBS) system for the analysis of complex matrices

In the present work, we discuss the evaluation and optimization of a stand-off laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (ST-LIBS) system, developed indigenously for remote analysis of heavy elements in soil. A compact Q-switched Nd:YAG laser operating at fundamental wavelength 1064 nm was used for plasma generation at distances up to 6 meters. Techniques for optimal experimental results were evaluated for detection of Cd, Cr, Pb, Mo and Ni in soil. The system was evaluated with two NIST certified soil samples. The effect of working distance on the LIBS signal is also discussed briefly. Results confirm the capabilities of the system for remote monitoring.