Abstract View
Development of an Inexpensive Spark-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Instrument for Measurements of Atmospheric Toxic Metals
HANYANG LI, Leonardo Mazzei, Christopher Wallis, Anthony S. Wexler, University of California, Davis
Abstract Number: 43
Working Group: Instrumentation and Methods
Abstract
Atmospheric toxic metal particles are known or suspected to cause cancer and other serious health issues. To meet the demand for identifying and controlling toxic air contaminants in environmental justice communities, we have recently developed an inexpensive spark-induced breakdown spectroscopy (SIBS) instrument for detecting and quantifying toxic metal pollutants in the atmosphere. Compared to conventional instruments used to analyze elemental compositions (such as ICP-MS and XRF spectrometer), our instrument allows near real-time measurements and does not require complex sample preparation.
In this work, we nebulized standard solutions and used univariate calibration methods to obtain the limit of detection (LOD) and the relationship between spectral peak areas and ambient concentration. Furthermore, the plasma parameters affecting SIBS performance were optimized, such as the time delay to observation, the distance between electrodes, and the ablation voltage. Using the optimal parameters, the instrument successfully detected 10 metals (including Cr, Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn, Co, Al, K, Be, and Ni), with LOD ranged from 50 to 810 ng m-3 at a flow rate of 15 l min-1 and a 30 min sampling duration. Similar to other investigations using ion breakdown spectroscopy, we did not observe strong emissions lines for Hg, Pb, As, Sb, and Se, which were likely due to spectral overlap, matrix effects, and the limited detection range of the optical components. Overall, SIBS is a promising technique for field measurements of toxic metals in environmental justice, industrial and urban applications.