Aerosol analysis by micro laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy: A new protocol for particulate matter characterization in filters

• Published in: Analytica Chimica Acta
• Main Authors: Marina-Montes, César, Motto-Ros, Vincent, Pérez-Arribas, Luis Vicente, Anzano, Jesús, Millán-Martínez, María, Cáceres, Jorge
• Other Authors: University of Zaragoza - Universidad de Zaragoza Zaragoza, Spectrométrie des biomolécules et agrégats (SPECTROBIO), Institut Lumière Matière Villeurbanne (ILM), Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Universidad Complutense de Madrid = Complutense University of Madrid Madrid (UCM), Universidad de Huelva, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Spain (CSIC)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2021
• Subjects: Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy; Filter characterization; Atmospheric aerosols; Micro LIBS imaging; Antarctica; [SPI]Engineering Sciences [physics]; [CHIM]Chemical Sciences; [PHYS]Physics [physics]; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03507097; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2021.338947

International audience Atmospheric aerosols (particulate matter – PM) affect the air quality and climate, even in remote areas, such as the Antarctic Region. Current techniques for continuous PM monitoring are usually complex, costly, time consuming and do not provide real-time measurements. In this work, based on micro laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), an innovative method with an optical design and multi-elemental scanning imaging, is presented to characterize PM collected in filters from Antarctica. After following a simple protocol and under atmospheric pressure, the new approach allows to obtain a global visualization of the elemental PM composition of the filters with a minimum sample destruction and preparation. For the first time, we were able to map the localization of pollutants in filters at high spatial resolution and speed. This recent method offers a new insight on the characterization of PM, particularly in isolated areas, where no complex equipment and real time measurements are demanded.