Coal Quantitative Analysis using Laser-Induced

Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)

SYNOPSIS FOR RESEARCH DISSERTATION

M.Phil. Physics

Sohail Ahmed Danish

Roll No.___________

Reg. No.___________

SUPERVISOR Co-Supervisor
Dr. Sami ul Haq Mr. Muhammad Aamir Israr
Principal Scientist, Senior Scientist,
NILOP, P.O Nilore, NILOP, P.O Nilore,
Islamabad Islamabad

Department of Physics
Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad
(2017)
 Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1
2. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM ....................................................................................... 2
3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES .............................................................................................. 2
4. SIGNIFICANCE ............................................................................................................... 2
5. DELIMITATIONS ........................................................................................................... 2
6. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY .................................................................................... 2
7. REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 3
Coal Quantitative Analysis using Laser-Induced
Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)

1. INTRODUCTION
As a new technological means of material composition detection and analysis, Laser-Induced
Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) has been proven to be a versatile and practical technique for
elemental analysis in a wide number of applications and materials. Many advantages such as
simple or non-sample preparation, simultaneous multi-element analysis, rapid, non-contact,
and in situ analysis position LIBS as a highly competitive technique compared with
conventional techniques. Most of the drawbacks of LIBS are, however, side effects of its
intrinsic advantages. For example, because of the small size of the focused laser beam and the
small sample mass vaporized by the spark, the accuracy is heavily dependent on the
homogeneity of the sample. In addition, the lack of sample preparation means that small
amounts of surface contaminants may affect the analysis and, at the same time, reproducibility
of the laser spark may be reduced by changes in surface composition. Also, the pulsed operation
of the spark yields a lower integrated emission signal and less reproducible sample excitation
than a continuous excitation source such as an inductively coupled plasma. However, most of
these problems can be alleviated through proper choice of the experimental conditions. In
recent years, application-oriented LIBS studies have become the working horse and LIBS
techniques have been widely used for process controls in metallurgy, mining and coal
industries, and in environmental monitoring such as pollutant detection in water, soil and air,
as well as identification of artworks and dyes[1-6].

By means of spectral analysis of the plasma emission taking place after interaction between the
incident laser and the material being analysed, the LIBS technique is capable of both qualitative
and quantitative elemental analysis. Beatrice Salle et al [7]. reported their elemental analytical
results of soil and rock samples under the simulated Martian atmospheric environment by using
remote LIBS. Their work demonstrated the feasibility of laser probe, providing experimental
data for future exploration of Mars. In recent years, it was reported that the LIBS technique was
used to analyse major, minor and trace elements in iron ores [8], to determine the carbon content
in coal fly ashes [9], to characterize coal and to detect its elemental composition, as well as to
analyse aluminium and calcium in soil samples [10]. Despite the LIBS technique has become
the focus of research and development, but so far, application of LIBS based techniques in
analysing coal has not yet attracted noticeable attention in Pakistan. As far as elemental analysis
of coal samples is concerned, no work relevant to this topic has been found so far. The LIBS
technique is used in M.Phil. degree research work to qualitatively analyse elemental
composition of local coal samples. This will help to access environmental impact of coal fired
power plants recently commission in Pakistan.

Undoubtedly, in some particular situations (screening, in situ measurement, process

monitoring, hostile environments, etc.) LIBS may be the technique of choice. Thus, the main
research efforts have been aimed at exploiting the techniques potential and minimizing its
drawbacks.

1
2. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
In this research work we will explore elemental composition of Pakistani coal using laser
induced breakdown spectroscopy. Some experimental work is available on foreign coal
composition that will help us to make correlation and will facilitate bench marking of our
experimental results.

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this research is to determine the quantity of element that are hazardous to
environment e.g. mercury, lead, etc. Laser produced plasma characterization will be required
to make such analysis possible.

4. SIGNIFICANCE
This research study will enhance our understanding of involved physics phenomenon and will
provide quantitative information about local coal constituents that could bolster other research
studies.

5. DELIMITATIONS
Elemental investigation will be limited to few atomic species in present in our sample in the
range of part per million (ppm) ratio.

6. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The light emitted from a laser produced plasma when examined by a spectrometer to form a
spectrum, is found to consist of discrete lines, bands and sometimes an overlying continuum.
Discrete lines (and sometimes accompanying continuum) are characteristic features of emission
from neutral atoms and ions in the plasma. The spectral lines are characterized by three
properties: wavelength, intensity and shape. These properties are dependent on the structure as
well as the environment of the emitting atoms.

Atomic emission spectroscopy can be used to determine the identity, the structure and the
environment of atoms by analysing the radiation emitted by them. From the measurement of
wavelengths, we may deduce the energy levels (or stationary states) of the atom and it provides
experimental basis for the theories of atomic structure. If we know the characteristic lines
emitted by an atom, then their appearance in the spectrum establishes the presence of that
element in the source. Measurement of intensities of spectral lines of different atoms in a given
source provides information about their number densities. The physical parameters of the
plasma, such as temperature and pressure, affect the intensities and also the shape of spectral
lines and these parameters can be determined by analysing the shapes of the spectral lines.

2
7. REFERENCES
1. Singh, J.P. and S.N. Thakur, eds. Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy. First ed. 2008,
Elsevier B.V.
2. Sun, Q., et al., Determination of Mn and Si in iron ore by laser-induced plasma spectroscopy.
Analytica Chimica Acta, 2000. 413(1): p. 187-195.
3. Zhang, H.S., F.Y. Yue, and J.P. Singh, Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy as a multimetal
continuous-emission monitor. Applied Optics, 1999. 38(9): p. 1459-1466.
4. Bustamante, M.F., C.A. Rinaldi, and C. Ferrero, Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy
characterization of Ca in a soil depth profile. Spectrochimica Acta Part B, 2002. 57(1): p. 303-
309.
5. Carranza, J.E., et al., On-line analysis of ambient air aerosols using laser-induced breakdown
spectroscopy. Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy, 2001. 56: p. 851-864.
6. Yoon, Y., et al., Quantitative analysis of pottery glaze by laser induced breakdown
spectroscopy. Microchemical Journal, 2001. 68(1): p. 251-256.
7. Salle, B., et al., Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for Mars surface analysis: capabilities
at stand-off distances and detection of chlorine and sulfur elements. Spectrochimica Acta
Part B, 2004. 59(9): p. 1413- 1422.
8. Death, D.L., A.P. Cunningham, and L.J. Pollard, Multielement analysis of iron ore pellets by
Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and Principal Components Regression.
Spectrochimica Acta Part B, 2008. 63(7): p. 763-769.
9. Jidong, L., L. Yan, and L. Ping, Lu Jidong, Liu Yan, Li Ping. Application of Laser-Induced
Breakdown Spectroscopy to Combustion Diagnosis. Journal of South China University of
Technology (Natural Science Edition), 2007. 35(10): p. 185-193.
10. Qinglin, G., et al., Determination of AI and Ca in Soil by Laser Micro-Plasma Spectroscopy.
Spectroscopy and Spectral Analysis, 2008. 28(1): p. 200-202.