Calibration free laser induced plasma spectroscopy: a new method for combustion products analysis

The Calibration-Free LIBS technique is a new standardless procedure for quantitative determination of metals in industrial smoke emissions, based on the Laser Induced Plasma Spectroscopy technique, which has been recently developed and patented by the Laser Spectroscopy Group at IFAM/CNR (Pisa). This procedure allows for fast and reliable quantitative analysis of industrial emissions, with typical sensitivities of one part per million (ppm) or better and precision of order 1% for all the elements in the sample. Major constituents, trace elements and impurities are all measured in the same run. These features make CF-LIBS an eligible method for on line continuous quantitative measurements. In fact, CF-LIBS is the only existing technique which gives precise quantitative results, comparable with laboratory chemical analysis, in real time and in situ.