Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy in analysis of algae contamination on the filter
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| Year of publication | 2022 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | The heavy metal contamination of algae on a filter was directly monitored with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) as a demonstration of LIBS capabilities. To enhance the LIBS sensitivity, single or double pulse arrangements employing 1064 and 532 nm lasers, noble gasses or nanoparticles were tested. Liquid samples of the green alga Desmodesmus subspicatus were intentionally contaminated with chromium, nickel or zinc, incubated, filtered, and the filters with the algae were analysed. Also laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was used for comparison and (ICP-MS) was used as a reference method. One half of the filter with the algae was dissolved and analysed as a solution with ICP-MS and the second half was subjected to the LIBS and LA-ICP-MS analysis. The metals were attributable to the algae contamination and detectable with LIBS. The results from the LIBS provided almost equivalent information about the relative changes of the contaminants concentration in the algae. The LIBS sensitivity with a Czerny-Turner spectrometer was fully comparable with the ICP-MS procedure. The LIBS trends were more similar to the LA-ICP-MS ones. The algae growth inhibition in dependence on the contaminant content, number of cells and the rate of cell contamination can be alternatively monitored with LIBS instead of the complicated procedure in ICP-MS analysis. |
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