Preparation of fluid samples for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy and/or imaging analysis

A method for analyzing a fluid sample containing one or more insoluble components, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing one or more membranes each membrane having one or more known characteristics, including at least a known LIBS spectra in the absence of the one or more soluble or insoluble components wherein at least one of the one or more membranes is a hydrophilic glass filter;
• (t) filtering or diffusing the fluid sample through or into the one or more membranes and retaining one or more components of the fluid sample on or in each of the one or more membranes;
• (c) analyzing each of the plurality of membranes using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to obtain a LIDS spectrum for each membrane in the presence of the retained one or more components, and
• reporting (i) a LIBS analysis corresponding to each membrane in the presence of the retained one or more components, along with (ii) information regarding one or more of the known characteristics of each membrane.

A method for analyzing a fluid sample containing one or more soluble or insoluble components, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing one or more membranes, each membrane having one or more known characteristics in an absence of the one or more soluble or insoluble components, including at least a known LIBS spectra;
• (b) filtering or diffusing the fluid sample through or into the one or more membranes and retaining one or more components of the fluid sample on or in each of the one or more membranes;
• (c) fixing one or more of the retained components in or on the one or more membranes;
• (d) analyzing each of the one or more membranes in the presence of the retained one or more components of the fluid sample using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to obtain a LIBS spectrum for each membrane in the presence of the retained one or more components, and
• (e) reporting (i) a LIBS analysis corresponding to each membrane in the presence of the retained one or more components along with (ii) information regarding one or more of the known characteristics of each membrane.

A method for analyzing a fluid sample containing one or more soluble or insoluble components, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) magnetizing the sample;
• (b) magnetically physically separating the sample into a portion containing magnetic particles and a portion containing non-magnetic particles;
• (c) providing one or more membranes, each membrane having one or more known characteristics in an absence of the one or more soluble or insoluble components including at least a known LIBS spectra;
• (d) filtering or diffusing a portion of the fluid sample through or into the one or more membranes and retaining one or more components of the fluid sample on or in each of the one or more membrane;
• (e) analyzing each of the one or more membranes in the presence of the retained one or more components of the fluid sample using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to obtain a LIBS spectrum for each membrane with the retained one or more components, and
• (f) reporting (i) a LIBS analysis corresponding to each membrane in the presence of the retained one or more components, along with (ii) information regarding one or more of the known characteristics of each membrane.