Investigation of elements in different samples of gasoline using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)

Abstract

The objective of this research was the utilization of laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique in investigation of elements in three different kinds of gasoline. Q-switched-Nd: YAG Laser with 10 (ns) pulse duration, 23.4 (mJ) energy per pulse, 0.5 Hz repetition rate was used and 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 samples plasma. The recorded spectra were processed by subtracting the dark current, pumping flashlamp spectra and background radiation. The elements were identified from the emitted lines after referring to the atomic spectra database. A comparison was done between the sample contents. The results showed that there are elements found in all the three samples with different amounts while there are some elements that not found in all the three kinds of gasoline.