Determination of Elements in Three Samples of Sudanese Benzene Using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)

Abstract

The objective of this work was the utilization of laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique in investigation of elements in three different types of Sudanese benzene. Q-switched –Nd: YAG Laser with 10 ns pulse duration, 100 mj energy per pulse, 2 Hz repetition rate was focused on the sample to achieve high power density leads to very high temperature in the focal volume and then undergo a number of reactions resulting in formation of a plasma for the sample with discrete emission lines which represent fingerprints of the atoms and ions constitute the sample. A spectrometer connected to PC was used to collect and record the emission spectra of the plasma. The recorded spectra were processed by subtracting the dark current, pumping flash lamp spectra and background radiation. The elements were identified from the emitted lines after referring to the atomic spectral database. A comparison was done between the sample contents. The results showed that there are elements found in all three samples with different amounts while there are elements that not found in all three types of benzene. From the results obtained in this research one can conclude that: The laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique is very accurate that the essential atoms forming the samples of benzene (Hydrogen and Carbon) appeared with a great amounts while other elements that were not essential as ( Pb , Be , Zr , Ni, Hg, Ti, Sc, La, Zn, Tm, Y, Eu, Kr, Gd, Cl, Ge, Hf, Mo, Xe, V, Mo, Ne, He, Fe, O, W, F and Nd), appeared with a little amounts relative to the essential atoms. (C, H, Fe, Ti, W, O and S) atoms were found in the three samples with different amounts. Also it has a good ability to detect almost all the elements and ions in the benzene samples, LIBS can be used as diagnostic technique for investigation of elements in liquid samples.