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

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.