Heavy Metals Detection in Zeolites Using the LIBS Method

In this study, a possibility of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for the analysis of zeolites containing copper, chromium, cobalt, cadmium, and lead in the concentration range of 0.05–0.5 wt.% is discussed. For the LIBS analysis, microporous ammonium form of Y zeolite with the silicon to aluminum molar ratio of 2.49 was selected. Zeolites, in the form of pressed pellets, were prepared by volume impregnation from the water solution using Co(CH3COO)2.4H2O, CuSO4.5H20, K2Cr2O7, PbNO3, and CdCl2 to form a sample with different amounts of heavy metals—Co, Cu, Cr, Pb, and Cd. Several spectral lines of the mentioned elements were selected to be fitted to obtain integral line intensity. To prevent the influence of the self-absorption effect, non-resonant spectral lines were selected for the calibration curves construction in most cases. The calibration curves of all elements are observed to be linear with high regression coefficients. On the other hand, the limits of detection (LOD) were calculated according to the 3σ/S formula using the most intensive spectral lines of individual elements, which are 14.4 ppm for copper, 18.5 ppm for cobalt, 16.4 ppm for chromium, 190.7 ppm for cadmium, and 62.6 ppm for lead