Method for preparing a sample for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy
AssigneeFoss Analytical A/S
InventorsThomas Nikolajsen, Daniel Aden
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Abstract
A method for preparing a sample of organic material for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) may include obtaining granular organic material, forming a portion of the granular organic material into a sample pellet, and searing the organic material. The searing may include searing only an exposed end surface of the sample pellet on which LIBS analysis is to be performed. The method may include pressing the seared sample pellet to consolidate the material comprising the seared end surface.
Claims4
A method for preparing a sample of organic material for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), the method comprising:
- obtaining granular organic material, the granular organic material including an organic matrix;
- press-forming a portion of the granular organic material into a sample pellet, the sample pellet having an exposed end surface that is to be subjected to a LIBS analysis;
- searing the sample pellet to induce a thermochemical decomposition of the organic matrix, wherein the searing includes searing the exposed end surface of the sample pellet;
- and
- re-pressing the sample pellet, subsequently to searing the exposed end surface of the sample pellet.
A method of performing laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), the method comprising:
- preparing a sample of organic material, the preparing including
- obtaining granular organic material, the granular organic material including an organic matrix,
- press-forming a portion of the granular organic material into a sample pellet such that the sample pellet has an exposed end surface,
- searing the sample pellet to induce a thermochemical decomposition of the organic matrix, wherein the searing includes searing the exposed end surface of the sample pellet to form a seared surface of the sample of organic material, and
- re-pressing the sample pellet, subsequently to searing the exposed end surface;
- directing a laser beam pulse to the seared surface of the sample of organic material to produce a plasma ablation event;
- and
- performing a spectrometric analysis of light emitted from plasma generated in the plasma ablation event to identify constituent elements of interest in the sample of organic material by their characteristic emission wavelengths.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.