Detection of heavy metals in water samples by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy combined with annular groove graphite flakes

The use of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for the analysis of heavy metals in water samples is investigated. Some factors such as splashing, surface ripples, extinction of emitted intensity, and a shorter plasma lifetime will influence the results if the water sample is directly measured. In order to avoid these disadvantages and the 'coffee-ring effect', hydrophilic graphite flakes with annular grooves were used for the first time to enrich and concentrate heavy metals in water samples before being analyzed by LIBS. The proposed method and procedure have been evaluated to concentrate and analyze cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead, and zinc in a water sample. The correlation coefficients were all above 0.99. The detection limits of 0.029, 0.087, 0.012, 0.083, 0.125, and 0.049 mg l−1 for Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn, respectively, were obtained in samples prepared in a laboratory. With this structure, the heavy metals homogeneously distribute in the annular groove and the relative standard deviations are all below 6%. This method is very convenient and suitable for online in situ analysis of heavy metals.