SciAps Z-300 Premier Handheld LIB

SciAps Z-300 Premier Handheld LIB

This application note demonstrates how the SciAps Z-300 Premier Handheld LIB can be used to measure the total organic carbon content of soils. The handheld form factor makes it ideal for field work negating the need to bring samples back to the and then process them.

Furthermore, the findings presented herein represent an exciting new opportunity in soil analysis; without the need for spectral soil libraries, chemical pre-treatment, or lab conditions, SOC can be measured rapidly with the SciAps handheld LIBS.

SciAps, Inc., is a Boston-based instrumentation company specialising in portable analytical instruments (LIBS and XRF). Their mission is to provide durable, field-tested, portable instruments to identify any compound, any mineral, any element — anyplace on the planet. Manufacturing, service and customer support is operated out of their fully ISO-certified facility.

Abstract
A portable handheld laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (HH LIBS) instrument was evaluated as a rapid method to qualitatively analyze rare earth elements in a uranium oxide matrix. This research is motivated by the need for development of a method to perform rapid, at-line chemical analysis in a nuclear facility, particularly to provide a rapid first pass analysis to determine if additional actions or measurements are warranted. This will result in the minimization of handling and transport of radiological and nuclear material and subsequent exposure to their associated hazards. In this work, rare earth elements (Eu, Nd, and Yb) were quantitatively spiked into a uranium oxide powder and analyzed by the HH LIBS instrumentation. This method demonstrates the ability to rapidly identify elemental constituents in sub-percent levels in a uranium matrix. Preliminary limits of detection (LODs) were determined with values on the order of hundredths of a percent. Validity of this methodology was explored by employing a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standard reference materials (SRM) 610 and 612 (Trace Elements in Glass). It was determined that the HH LIBS method was able to clearly discern the rare earths elements of interest in the glass or uranium matrices.