Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a latest advancement in the field of analytical techniques. it can perform real time analysis with detection up to ppm levels. For detection of heavy metals in ambient air in particulate matters different techniques are used widely used technique is atomic absorption spectroscopy which is sequential, time consuming and expensive. For these reasons LIBS was used. A rapid method was developed in which LIBS was optimized to detect cadmium, zinc and lead on filter paper. Calibration curves were prepared for quantitative analysis. Then real samples from 4 different locations were collected on filter paper and were analyzed using the developed method on LIBS. To validate the results obtained by developed method on LIBS the results were compared to X-Ray Florescence technique for qualitative and on Atomic Absorption spectroscopy for quantitative analysis. The results were comparable and of same magnitude.

Autorentext

Syed Hassan Ahmed is a professional environmentalist with MS from National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Environmental Engineering and Bachelors in Environmental Sciences from University of Peshawar. He is currently working as an environmental analyst/consultant.