Detection of environmental contaminants by time resolved laser induced breakdown spectroscopy technique

The Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) technique has become, a reliable tool for very fast multi-elemental pollutants' analysis in atmosphere, solid matrix and liquids. Among the many advantages of LIBS technique with respect to standard methods, either chemical or laser-based, it may be appropriate to quote the possibility of getting quantitative information on the whole sample composition in a single run, through the simultaneous detection of the emission line patterns of different elements present in the materials under analysis. This peculiar feature of the LIBS system allows for very fast sample analysis and thus, when necessary, for continuous monitoring of its composition. The applications of the LIBS technique to industrial exhausts monitoring take a great advantage of this characteristics, along with the possibility of LIBS operation in hostile environment.