Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for the environmental determination of total carbon and nitrogen in soils

Madhavi Z. Martin, Stan D. Wullschleger, Charles T. Garten, Anthony V. Palumbo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

99 Scopus citations

Abstract

Soils from various sites have been analyzed with the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique for total elemental determination of carbon and nitrogen. Results from LIBS have been correlated to a standard laboratory-based technique (sample combustion), and strong linear correlations were obtained for determination of carbon concentrations. The LIBS technique was used on soils before and after acid washing, and the technique appears to be useful for the determination of both organic and inorganic soil carbon. The LIBS technique has the potential to be packaged into a field-deployable instrument.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2072-2077
Number of pages6
JournalApplied Optics
Volume42
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 20 2003

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