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Eingeladener Vortrag
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In civil engineering the information about the quantitative ingress of harmful species like Cl⁻, Na⁺ and SO²⁻₄ is of great interest to evaluate the remaining life time of structures. These species are triggering different damage processes like the alkali-silica reaction (ASR) or the chloride-induced corrosion of the reinforcement. For the evaluation of the heterogeneous concrete it is necessary to discriminate between the different phases mainly cement matrix and aggregates. The transport processes are only proceeding in the cement matrix therefore the measured concentrations should be regarded to the cement content. For the 2D evaluation of element distributions different multivariate cluster-algorithms like k-means and Expectation-Maximization-algorithm (EM-algorithm) have been tested. The methods are compared and different figures of merit will be presented. After phase separation non-relevant information of the aggregates can be excluded. The ingress of harmful species is then quantified using chemometrics. Due to concrete cores from a parking deck the methods have been validated and verified with standard methods of wet-chemistry.
LIBS matures to a quantitative method for elemental analysis rather than a qualitative diagnostic tool. Numerous real world applications for bulk and microanalysis profit from instrumental and methodical advances in the last decade. Today, recording of numerous spectra from samples can be done with low experimental efforts and low cost per spectrum. Not surprisingly, LIBS data, with a high spectral resolution and a broad spectral range, become “big data” and can be utilized in different ways beyond elemental analysis. But, what is the generic or best approach for quantitative LIBS analysis? What techniques can be employed to gain new insights into data? Emergent information can arise through data fusion of LIBS data with other data, i.e. orthogonal spectroscopic or other information related to the sample. But are fused data better than data from a single method?
This talk will provide an in-depth overview what chemometric tools can do for LIBS. For quantitative analysis, pre-processing tools are essential to improve precision, accuracy, and reproducibility but at the same time their application to data is still based on phenomenological criteria. Multivariate analysis seems to dominate LIBS, but are there drawbacks on using all information from spectra. For different data sets from real applications, the use of multivariate calibration and (un)supervised pattern recognition will be discussed in comparison with reference analytical methods and possible improvements through plasma diagnostics and modelling.
Two topics will be addressed: (1) calibration-free LIBS based on Monte Carlo spectral optimization and (2) insight into the possibility of simultaneous elemental and molecular analysis by LIBS. Both topics heavily rely on modeling of laser induced plasma and are closely connected to experiment. In Monte Carlo LIBS (MC LIBS), concentrations are found by fitting model-generated synthetic spectra to experimental spectra. The model of a static uniform isothermal plasma in local thermodynamic equilibrium is employed. Many configurations of plasma parameters and their corresponding spectra are simultaneously generated using a graphic processing unit (GPU). Using the GPU allows for the reduction of computational time down to several minutes for one experimental spectrum that presents the significant progress in comparison with earlier versions of MC LIBS. The method is tested by analyzing industrial oxides containing various concentrations of CaO, Fe2O3, MgO, and TiO2. The agreement within several percent between found and certified concentrations is achieved. Next, a newly developed collisional-dominated model of a laser induced plasma is introduced. The model includes the coupled Navier-Stokes, state, radiative transfer, and material transport equations and incorporates plasma chemistry through the equilibrium approach based on the use of atomic and molecular partition functions. Simple chemical systems are modeled including ablation of Si and C in N2 and Ar atmospheres.The model is used to study evolution of number densities of atomic and molecular species in the expanding plasma plume. The distribution is compared to experimental observations obtained by optical imaging and tomography. To further verify the model, dynamic plasma
The majority of the built infrastructure is made of concrete, which is a multiphase system made of cement, aggregates, water and pores (every year nearly 4 billion tons of cement are produced which is largest mass flow generated by mankind). Concrete is often used in combination with steel as reinforced concrete. Environmental influences, especially the ingress of harmful ions in combination with the ingress of water, trigger different damage processes which reduce the designed lifetime of a structure. The ingress of chlorides from de-icing salt or sea water leads to corrosion of the reinforcement. Also the carbonation of the concrete may trigger the corrosion of the reinforcement. The ingress of alkalis from de-icing salts may cause the expansion of the amorphous silica aggregates (alkali-silica reaction) through formation of a swelling gel of calcium silicate hydrate if water is present. The ingress of sulfates may cause spalling of the concrete surface due to ett-ringite formation. For the standard procedure in civil engineering cores are taken, cut in slices, grinded and the obtained homogenized powder is solved in acid and investigated by standard procedures. BAM has developed the LIBS technique for the 2D evaluation of the chemical composition of concrete [1-5]. The technique is established for automated laborato-ry use with high numbers of samples to investigate transport processes of harmful species (Cl-, CO2, SO42- and alkalis) in concrete. Information about ingress depth and the quantitative values are important to estimate the remaining lifetime of the infrastructure. LIBS is a surface technique. To get information about the ingress depth, a core has to be taken and cut in the middle. The measurements are carried out at the cross section. The main advantages of LIBS are the direct measure-ment on the surface of the concrete, fast analysis (sample rate 100 Hz) with a spatial resolution of up to 100 μm, the consideration of the heterogeneity of the concrete and the possibility of automated measurements which save a lot of man-power and time. As an example the investigation of ingress profiles for standard diffusion and migration tests in civil engi-neering takes hours in comparison to just a few minutes using LIBS. At the same time a 2D-evaluation provides information about hot spots of elemental concentration which may not be found by standard methods.
The state of the art of LIBS technique for applications in civil engineering will be presented, including typical results of 2D investigation of concrete in laboratory. The performance is also demonstrated by examples for on-site applications using a mobile LIBS system. The road map to standardization is presented as well.
Stahlbetonbauwerke der Verkehrsinfrastruktur sind nutzungsbedingt Expositionen ausgesetzt, die zu Schä-den an der Konstruktion führen können. Dabei ist in erster Linie die Einwirkung von tausalzhaltigen Wässern im Winter zu nennen, die durch den Beton kapillar und über Diffusionsvorgänge aufgenommen werden. Ein Weg, die kapillare Wasseraufnahme zu unterbinden, ist eine Tiefenhydrophobierung der Werkstoffoberflä-chen durch siliziumorganische Verbindungen. Die Wirksamkeit und die Dauerhaftigkeit dieser Tiefenhydro-phobierungen werden im Wesentlichen durch die Eindringtiefe und den Wirkstoffgehalt in der Betonrandzone bestimmt. Diese beiden Parameter gilt es also in der Qualitätssicherung zu überprüfen.
Bisherige Verfahren zur Qualitätssicherung einer hydrophobierenden Maßnahme sind mit einer Bohrkernent-nahme verbunden, da die Analysen im Labor durchgeführt werden müssen. Andere Verfahren arbeiten zwar zerstörungsfrei und können am Objekt durchgeführt werden, liefern aber keine Informationen über die Ein-dringtiefe und die Wirkstoffverteilung. Das Fehlen eines geeigneten Qualitätssicherungs-Verfahrens hat eine breite praktische Anwendung der als technisch sehr leistungsfähig geltenden Tiefenhydrophobierungen bisher verhindert.
Im Rahmen eines vom BMBF geförderten Forschungsvorhabens wurde ein Verfahren entwickelt mit dem direkt vor Ort das Vorhandensein der Tiefenhydrophobierung nachgewiesen und die Wirkstoffverteilung in der Betonrandzone detektiert werden kann. Da der chemische Kontrast einer Tiefenhydrophobierung zum Beton gering ist mussten „reaktive Marker“ entwickelt werden, die an das eigentliche Hydrophobierungsmittel chemisch gebunden wurden. Mit dem Verfahren der „Laser Induced Breakdown Spetroscopy“ (LIBS) konnte dann die Verteilung des als Marker verwendeten Elementes, und damit der Wirkstoffgehalt in der Betonrand-zone qualitativ und quantitativ bestimmt werden.
Das Vorhaben SILAMARK wurde als Verbundprojekt unter Beteiligung der Sto SE & Co. KGaA, der Bundes-anstalt für Materialforschung und –prüfung, der Hochschule Karlsruhe – Technik und Wirtschaft (HsKa), der Aqua Stahl GmbH und der Specht Kalleja + Partner Beratende Ingenieure GmbH realisiert.
The majority of the built infrastructure is made of concrete, which is a multiphase system made of cement, aggregates, water and pores (every year nearly 4 billion tons of cement are produced which is largest mass flow generated by mankind). Concrete is often used in combination with steel as reinforced concrete. Environmental influences, especially the ingress of harmful ions in combination with the ingress of water, trigger different damage processes which reduce the designed lifetime of a structure. The ingress of chlorides from de-icing salt or sea water leads to corrosion of the reinforcement. Also the carbonation of the concrete may trigger the corrosion of the reinforcement. The ingress of alkalis from de-icing salts may cause the expansion of the amorphous silica aggregates (alkali-silica reaction) through formation of a swelling gel of calcium silicate hydrate if water is present. The ingress of sulfates may cause spalling of the concrete surface due to ettringite formation.
For the standard procedure in civil engineering cores are taken, cut in slices, grinded and the obtained homogenized powder is solved in acid and investigated by standard procedures.
BAM has developed the LIBS technique for the 2D evaluation of the chemical composition of concrete [1-11]. The technique is established for automated laboratory use with high numbers of samples to investigate transport processes of harmful species (Cl-, CO2, SO42- and alkalis) in concrete. Information about ingress depth and the quantitative values are important to estimate the remaining lifetime of the infrastructure. LIBS is a surface technique. To get information about the ingress depth, a core has to be taken and cut in the middle. The measurements are carried out at the cross section. The main advantages of LIBS are the direct measurement on the surface of the concrete, fast analysis (sample rate 100 Hz) with a spatial resolution of up to 100 µm, the consideration of the heterogeneity of the concrete and the possibility of automated measurements which save a lot of manpower and time. As an example the investigation of ingress profiles for standard diffusion and migration tests in civil engineering takes hours in comparison to just a few minutes using LIBS. At the same time a 2D-evaluation provides information about hot spots of elemental concentration which may not be found by standard methods.
Ingress of chlorides due to a crack in a repair mortar. Left: Photo of the cross section of a concrete core and the surface investigated by LIBS (area 70 mm x 70 mm). Right: Color coded chlorine intensity on the cross section of a concrete core, dark red represents high chlorine content.
The state of the art of LIBS technique for applications in civil engineering will be presented, including typical results of 2D investigation of concrete in laboratory. The performance is also demonstrated by examples for onsite applications using a mobile LIBS system. The road map to standardization is presented as well.
The Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is a laser spectroscopic method which allows a time efficient, minor-destructive, chemical analysis of materials. In principle all elements on the periodic table can be simultaneously analysed by using LIBS, regardless of the state of aggregation. LIBS offers numerous applications in the field of civil engineering; most importantly the analysis of building materials. This work will focus on the evaluation of concrete structures and harmful substances which can penetrate the concrete. A variety of information can be collected through LIBS. Determining the concentration of harmful substances like chloride, sodium or sulphur, the examination of the carbonation depth and the distinction between varying layers of materials (e.g. aggregates, cement paste, metals, etc.) are possible applications. All this information can be provided through one LIBS measurement in the form of a high resolution 2D element map, with resolutions up to 0.1 mm x 0.1 mm. To scan a concrete surface only an optical access is needed. To create a depth profile of an intruding substance the extraction of a drill core is necessary. Onsite measurements via LIBS can be conducted by using a mobile version of the LIBS system. Through using calibration curves LIBS allows not only the qualitative but also quantitative analysis of element concentrations. All those prospects make LIBS a trendsetting method to secure the integrity of infrastructures in a sustainable manner.
Concrete is a multiphase material made of cement, aggregates and water. The heterogeneity of concrete is a result of mixing aggregates (grain size between 0.125 mm to 32 mm) and cement (grain size < 0.04 mm) together. There are always aggregates with a grain size below 0.125 mm (flour grains) therefore the cement matrix is always a mixture of these small particles. Different grain size distributions by making concrete are important to ensure the needed density and com-pressive strength. In order to estimate the remaining lifetime of concrete structures the quantification of element concentra-tions of alkali and chlorides regarding to the cement matrix only (1/3 of the total mass), is a major concern in civil engineer-ing. Due to two-dimensional scanning with LIBS the coarse aggregates can be evaluated and excluded from the analysis. In the case of particles (flour grains and cement) smaller than the laser spot size, the microscopic hetero-geneity influences the laser-plasma interaction and has therefore an impact on the results. In this study the influence of the micro-heterogeneity and the impact on the laser-material interaction is examined. The effect of changing ratios between cement particles and aggregate particles in the laser-induced plasma has been analyzed (see figure 1, right). Therefore, different samples with defined grain sizes are prepared and the obtained distributions were analyzed with x-ray diffraction (XRD). For the LIBS measurements, an automated system that operates with a low energy NdCr:YAG laser (pulse energy of 3 mJ, a wavelength of 1064 nm, a pulse width of 1.5 ns, a repetition rate of 100 Hz) and a NIR Czerny-Turner spectrometer has been used.
Der Vortrag stellt einige aktuelle Herausforderungen für die Prozessanalytik und mögliche Antworten vor.
Gepulste Raman-Spektrometer akkumulieren das Raman-Signal mit Hilfe schneller optischer Schalter im Picosekunden-Bereich, bevor langlebigere Fluoreszenzanregung entsteht. Damit lassen sich stark fluoreszierende Materialien untersuchen, die bislang nicht zugänglich sind. Eine weitere interessante Entwicklung ist etwa die Shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS) die besonders für biologische Anwendungen interessant ist.
Flexible, modulare Produktionsanlagen stellen einen vielversprechenden Ansatz für die kontinuierliche Produktion von Fein- und Spezialchemikalien dar. In einem EU-Projekt wird derzeit die Feldintegration eines Online-NMR-Sensormoduls als smartes Modul für die Prozesskontrolle vorangebracht. Dieses Modul basiert auf einem kommerziell erhältlichen Niederfeld-NMR-Spektrometer, welche zurzeit für die Anwendung im Laborbereich erhältlich ist. Für die Feldintegration wurde ein ATEX-zertifiziertes, explosionsgeschütztes Gehäuse entwickelt sowie Automationsschemen für den unbeaufsichtigten Betrieb und für die spektrale Datenauswertung erstellt.
Eine sehr gut anwendbare analytische Messtechnik zur Kontrolle der elementaren Zusammensetzung von verschiedensten Materialien ist die laserinduzierte Plasmaspektroskopie (LIPS, engl. LIBS - Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy). Bei der LIBS wird ein kurz gepulster Laser auf eine Probe fokussiert, um ein Leuchtplasma zu erzeugen. Das dabei erzeugte Atomemissionsspektrum ermöglicht eine qualitative und quantitative Analyse der Zusammensetzung der Probe bezüglich praktisch aller Elemente des Periodensystems. In einem aktuellen Projekt wird diese Methode neben anderen zur Online-Analyse von Ackerböden für die ortsspezifischer Bewirtschaftung (Precision Agriculture) weiterentwickelt und bewertet.
In situ laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy measurements in stainless steels during TIG welding
(2018)
Chemical composition of the welding seam and HAZ has significant effect on weld quality. Current inspection methods for weld seams measure and investigate post factum and cannot prevent weld defects. Element burn-off may significantly affect solidification leading to embrittlement or cracking Control of weld chemical compositions insures a controlled solidification and resistance to related weld defects. A prototype of a LIBS controlled welding process is presented.
An improved algorithm for calibration-free laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (CF LIBS) is presented which includes several novel features in comparison with previously proposed similar algorithms. In particular, it allows using spectral lines with arbitrary optical thickness for the construction of Saha-Boltzmann plots, retrieves the absorption path length (plasma diameter) directly from a spectrum, replaces the Lorentzian line profile function by the Voigt function, and allows for self-absorption correction using pre-calculated and tabulated data rather than approximating functions. The tabulated data embody the solutions of the radiative transfer equation for numerous combinations of optical thicknesses and line widths. The algorithm is thoroughly verified with synthetic spectra.
Laser-induced plasmas are widely used in many areas of science and technology; examples include spectrochemical analysis, thin film deposition, material processing, and even jet propulsion. Several topics will be addressed. First, general phenomenology of laser-induced plasmas will be discussed. Then, a chemical model will be presented based on a coupled solution of Navier-Stokes, state, radiative transfer, material transport, and chemical (Guldberg-Waage) equations. Results of computer simulations for several chemical systems will be shown and compared to experimental observations obtained by optical imaging, spectroscopy, and tomography. The latter diagnostic tools will also be briefly discussed. Finally, a prospective application of laser-induced plasma and plasma modeling will be illustrated on the example of calibration-free MC LIBS (Monte Carlo Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy), in which concentrations of elements in materials are found by fitting model-generated and experimental spectra.
Bestimmung von Makro- und Mikronährstoffen in Böden mittels laserinduzierter Plasmaspektroskopie
(2018)
In respect of an efficient cultivation of agricultural cropland, a site-specific fertility management is necessary. Therefore, affordable and extensive mapping methods are needed. The research projects I4S (intelligence for soil) has the goal to develop a system for this purpose. I4S is one of ten interdisciplinary research project associations of the innovation programme called BonaRes, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
The system includes a sensor platform, which contains different sensors, like XRF, VIS-NIR, Gamma and LIBS. The main task of LIBS measurements in this project is the real-time determination of the elemental contents of major and minor nutrients in soils, like calcium, magnesium, potassium. LIBS (laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy) is known as a fast and simultaneous multi-element analysis with little or no sample preparation. The main task of LIBS measurements in this project is the real-time determination of the elemental contents of nutrients in soils, like calcium, magnesium, potassium. For this purpose, a special setup has been designed. The sample uptake operates with the help of a rotatable sample plate which circulates with different velocities to simulate the application on the field. To provide a higher intensity and a better reproducibility of the obtained signal, a double-pulse Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) was used. In order to minimize dust formation from the soil during the operation of the laser, a dust removal by suction has been integrated. When using relative methods such as LIBS, a suitable calibration curve is needed for absolute quantification. The complex matrix of soils, as well as the influence of moisture and grain size in soils makes the absolute quantification by LIBS challenging. To overcome these influences, chemometric methods were used. With the principal component analysis (PCA) a classification of soils into different soil types was performed and a calibration curve based on partial least squares regression (PLSR) was generated. With this calibration model’s elemental distribution maps for different German agricultural fields were created.
Analyse des Tausalzeintrages in Fahrbahndeckenbetone im Kontext der Alkali-Kieselsäure-Reaktion
(2018)
In den letzten Jahren sind im deutschen Bundesautobahnnetz (BAB-Netz) vermehrt AKR-Schäden an Betonfahrbahndecken aufgetreten, die zum Teil zu einer Halbierung ihrer geplanten Nutzungsdauer von 30 Jahren führte. Ursächlich hierfür ist die Verwendung alkaliempfindlicher Gesteinskörnung, die bei gleichzeitiger Anwesenheit von Wasser infolge der Exposition der Fahrbahndecke und dem alkalischen Milieu durch den Einsatz alkalireicher Portlandzemente bei der Betonherstellung zu einer Alkali-Kieselsäure-Reaktion (AKR) führt. Zusätzlich wird der AKR-Schädigungsprozess in Betonfahrbahndecken durch den externen Tausalzeintrag (primär NaCl) im Winter begünstigt. Vor diesem Hintergrund kommt der Ermittlung des Tausalzeintrags in den Fahrbahndeckenbeton eine große Bedeutung zu. Die Analyse des Tausalzeintrags erfolgte bisher ausschließlich nasschemisch an gemahlenen Bohrkernsegmenten. Nachteilig ist hierbei die fehlende differenzierte Betrachtung des Natriumgehaltes im Zementstein und in der Gesteinskörnung. Der alternative Einsatz von LIBS (Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy) eröffnet in diesem Kontext neue Möglichkeiten. So wird in diesem Beitrag an Hand von Bohrkernen aus einem AKR-geschädigten BAB-Abschnitt exemplarisch die Vorgehensweise bei der LIBS-Analyse zur Ermittlung der Na- und interagierenden Cl-Verteilung an vertikalen Schnittflächen des Bohrkerns aufgezeigt. Da der Tausalzeintrag primär über den Zementstein erfolgt, wurde der verfälschende Na-Grundgehalt der Gesteinskörnung mittels Zementsteinkriteriums (Nutzung unterschiedlichen Ca-Gehalts in Zementstein und Gesteinskörnung) eliminiert. Vergleichend durchgeführte Cl-Mappings mit Mikroröntgenfluoreszenzanalyse (MRFA) belegen die Güte der durchgeführten LIBS-Messungen.
Aber auch bei der Verifizierung der Übertragbarkeit der Ergebnisse der zum Ausschluss reaktiver Gesteinskörnung bei Neubau und Erneuerung im BAB-Netz eingesetzten Performanceprüfungen mit externem Alkalieintrag auf Praxisverhältnisse hat sich das LIBSVerfahren bewährt. So wurde festgestellt, dass die mit NaCl-Lösung beaufschlagten Laborprüfkörper aus einem repräsentativen Fahrbahndeckenbeton bei der Klimawechsellagerung (KWL) über ihre gesamte Höhe von 10 cm einen Eintrag von Na und Cl erfahren. Weiterhin konnte im Gegensatz zu bisherigen Annahmen erstmals mit LIBS und Nasschemie gezeigt werden, dass die Frost-Tauwechsel-Phase bei der KWL zu keinem erhöhten Tausalzeintrag führt.
Concrete is often used in combination with steel as reinforced concrete. Environmental influences, especially the ingress of harmful ions in combination with the ingress of water, trigger different damage processes which reduce the designed lifetime of a structure. The ingress of chlorides from de-icing salt or sea water leads to corrosion of the reinforcement. Also the carbonation of the concrete may trigger the corrosion of the reinforcement. The ingress of alkalis from de-icing salts may cause the expansion of the amorphous silica aggregates (alkali-silica reaction) through formation of a swelling gel of calcium silicate hydrate if water is present. The ingress of sulfates may cause spalling of the concrete surface due to ettringite formation.
BAM has developed the LIBS technique for automated laboratory use with high numbers of samples to investigate transport processes of harmful species (Cl-, CO2, SO42- and alkalis) in concrete. Information about ingress depth and the quantitative values are important to estimate the remaining lifetime of the infrastructure. To get information about the ingress depth, a core has to be taken and cut in the middle. The measurements are carried out at the cross section. The main advantages of LIBS are the direct measurement on the surface of the concrete, fast analysis (sample rate 100 Hz) with a spatial resolution of up to 100 µm, the consideration of the heterogeneity of the concrete. The possibility of automated measurements saves a lot of manpower and time. At the same time a 2D-evaluation provides information about hot spots of elemental concentration which may not be found by standard methods.
Typical results of 2D investigation of concrete in laboratory will be presented. The performance is also demonstrated by examples for onsite applications using a mobile LIBS system. The road map to standardization is presented as well.
Die „Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy“ (LIBS) bietet die Möglichkeit, direkt auf der optisch zugänglichen Oberfläche von Baustoffen 2-dimensional die Elementverteilung zu erfassen. Durch das zugrundeliegende Prinzip sind alle Elemente des Periodensystems detektierbar, auch leichte Elemente wie Wasserstoff oder Lithium.
Einerseits können alle für die Zusammensetzung des Zementes und der Gesteinskörnung relevanten Elemente erfasst werden, andererseits auch die für Schädigungsprozesse in Beton wichtigen Elemente Chlor, Schwefel, Natrium, Kalium, Kohlenstoff und Stickstoff. Der Nachweis kann simultan erfolgen.
Der Vorteil des Verfahrens liegt in der einfachen Probenvorbereitung, der direkten Messung auf der Oberfläche des Festkörpers und der Schnelligkeit der Messung. Die Heterogenität von Beton wird im Ergebnis berücksichtigt. Die Konzentrationen von schädigenden Ionen lassen sich bezogen auf den Bindemittelgehalt angeben. LIBS liefert standardmäßig qualitative Werte. Durch Kalibrierung anhand von Referenzproben ist eine Quantifizierung der Ergebnisse möglich.
Das Potenzial des Verfahrens wird am Beispiel der Bestimmung der Chlorid-Verteilung in der Bindemittelmatrix vorgestellt. Andere Anwendungen sind die Bestimmung der Karbonatisierungstiefe, die Bestimmung des Eintrages von Alkalien oder die Bestimmung der Verteilung von Schwefel.
Das Verfahren kann im Labor zur Untersuchung einer großen Anzahl von Proben oder vor-Ort zur schnellen Entscheidungsfindung eingesetzt werden. Kommerzielle Geräte sind seit kurzem verfügbar.
Die örtliche Auflösung der Messung beträgt bis zu 0,1 mm × 0,1 mm. Ein Messpunkt hat einen Durchmesser von ca. 100 μm. Die Messfrequenz liegt bei 100 Hz. Als Ergebnis entstehen für jedes Element eine 2D-Darstellungen der Konzentration über der Messfläche.
Der Scan eines Bohrkerns von 50 mm x 70 mm dauert bei einer Auflösung von 0,5 mm lateral und 1 mm vertikal ca. 7 min. Es können auch raue oder gebrochene Oberflächen durch Nachführung der z-Achse untersucht werden. Die Nachweisgrenze für die Bestimmung des Chlorgehaltes bezogen auf den Bindemittelgehalt liegt bei 0,03 M-%.
Der Unterausschuss LIBS im Bauwesen im FA ZfP im Bauwesen der DGZfP arbeitet an der Erstellung von Merkblättern und Regelwerken zur Anwendung des Verfahrens.
The Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is an useful analytical technique for the chlorine detection in building materials, specifically in the reinforcement concrete. If chlorine exceeds a specific concentration threshold, the result can be pitting corrosion of the reinforcement, which affects the stability and lifetime of building structures like marine constructions, bridges or parking decks. The critical chlorine content based to cement is 0.4 wt.-% based to the cement for reinforced concrete. The ingress of chlorides from sea water or de-icing salt leads to corrosion of the reinforcement.
The chlorine spectral line Cl I at 837.59 nm shows a good performance in helium atmosphere. For measurements without helium we used a electric discharge setup to reheat the Laser-induced plasma with a voltage below 100 V. In this case the reheating shows an increasing chlorine emission in air atmosphere.
This work shows chlorine calibration curves with LIBS in a helium flow and LIBS with electric discharge reheating in air atmosphere. The determination of the limit of detection (LOD) for both setups and the measurement results of a drill core sample with a quantitative chlorine ingress profile will be presented.
An improved algorithm for calibration-free laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (CF LIBS) will be presented which includes several novel features in comparison with previously proposed similar algorithms. In particular, it allows using spectral lines with arbitrary optical thickness for the construction of Saha-Boltzmann plots, retrieves the absorption path length (plasma diameter) directly from a spectrum, replaces the Lorentzian line profile function by the Voigt function, and allows for self-absorption correction using pre-calculated and tabulated data rather than approximating functions. The tabulated data embody the solutions of the radiative transfer equation for numerous combinations of optical thicknesses and line widths. The algorithm is thoroughly verified using synthetic spectra.
Laser induced plasma (LIP) is a highly dynamic, short living event which presents significant difficulty for both diagnostics and modeling. The former requires precise spatially- and time-resolved measurements on a micron-nanosecond scale while the latter needs numerous descriptive parameters; many of them can only be obtained from experiment. Diagnostics and modeling should always complement each other for obtaining a truthful picture of LIP.
In this presentation, a newly developed collisional-dominated model will be presented. The model is based on the coupled Navier-Stokes, state, radiative transfer, material transport, and chemical equations. The model incorporates plasma chemistry through the equilibrium approach that relies on atomic and molecular partition functions. Several chemical systems are modeled including Si-C-Cl-N and B-H-Cl systems.
The model is used to study the equilibrium states of the systems as functions of the concentrations of plasma species and plasma temperature. The model also predicts the evolution of number densities of atomic and molecular species in the expanding plasma plume.
Die vorstehend dargestellten Untersuchungen lassen sich wie folgt zusammenfassen:
• Mit dem für die mechanische Vorschädigung entwickelten Versuchsstand und
gewählten Prüfregime können die für die ermüdungsinduzierte Schadensevolution
typische stabilisierende und stabile Phase in der auf Zug beanspruchten
Betonrandzone gut abgebildet werden. So wurde dort zum Beispiel, ausgehend
von dem hier gewählten praxisnahen Belastungsregime, mit Ultraschall in der
Ruhephase durch das Trockenschwingen ein maximaler Abfall des relativen
dynamischen E-Moduls von ca. 8 - 10 % ermittelt.
• Mit aufbauenden kapillaren Aufsaugversuchen wurde gezeigt, dass die erzeugte
Betondegradation zu einer moderaten Erhöhung der Aufnahme des Prüfmediums
führt.
• Zur Bewertung der Auswirkungen einer alleinigen Vorschädigung (Trockenschwingen)
auf die schädigende AKR mittels Performance-Prüfung ist die Klimawechsellagerung
aufgrund der einseitigen Tausalzbeaufschlagung am besten
geeignet. Die hier ermittelten Dehnungsverläufe lassen auf einen moderaten
Einfluss der mechanischen Vorschädigung auf die AKR schließen.
• Die zusätzlich im Kontext der Nasschwingversuche durchgeführten 60°C Betonversuche
zeigen, dass die zyklische Beanspruchung vor und nach dem Aufbringen
der Tausalzlösung die schädigende AKR gleichfalls moderat erhöht.
In derzeit laufenden ergänzenden Untersuchungen wird der separate Einfluss der ermüdungsinduzierten
Rissbildung auf die schädigende AKR an homogen, stärker geschädigten
Prüfkörpern mit einem hohen inneren AKR-Schädigungspotenzial im 60°C
Betonversuch grundhaft analysiert. Zusätzlich wird gegenwärtig der Einfluss der degradierten
Betonrandzone auf die Dehnungsverteilung an großformatigen Prüfkörpern
über die Höhe im 40°C Betonversuch vertiefend für die makroskopische Modellierung
untersucht.
The majority of the built infrastructure is made of concrete, which is a multiphase system made of cement, aggregates, water and pores. Concrete is often used in combination with steel as reinforced concrete. Environmental influences, especially the ingress of harmful ions in combination with the ingress of water, trigger different damage processes which reduce the designed lifetime of a structure. The ingress of chlorides from de-icing salt or sea water leads to corrosion of the reinforcement. Also the carbonation of the concrete may trigger the corrosion of the reinforcement. The ingress of alkalis from de-icing salts may cause the expansion of the amorphous silica aggregates (alkali-silica reaction) through formation of a swelling gel of calcium silicate hydrate if water is present. The ingress of sulfates may cause spalling of the concrete surface due to ettringite formation.
For the standard procedure in civil engineering cores are taken, cut in slices, grinded and the obtained homogenized powder is solved in acid and investigated by standard procedures.
BAM has developed the LIBS technique for the 2D evaluation of the chemical composition of concrete [1-11]. The technique is established for automated laboratory use with high numbers of samples to investigate transport processes of harmful species (Cl-, CO2, SO42- and alkalis) in concrete. Information about ingress depth and the quantitative values are important to estimate the remaining lifetime of the infrastructure. LIBS is a surface technique. To get information about the ingress depth, a core has to be taken and cut in the middle. The measurements are carried out at the cross section. The main advantages of LIBS are the direct measurement on the surface of the concrete, fast analysis (sample rate 100 Hz) with a spatial resolution of up to 100 µm, the consideration of the heterogeneity of the concrete and the possibility of automated measurements which save a lot of manpower and time. As an example the investigation of ingress profiles for standard diffusion and migration tests in civil engineering takes hours in comparison to just a few minutes using LIBS. At the same time a 2D-evaluation provides information about hot spots of elemental concentration which may not be found by standard methods.
Ingress of chlorides due to a crack in a repair mortar. Left: Photo of the cross section of a concrete core and the surface investigated by LIBS (area 70 mm x 70 mm). Right: Color coded chlorine intensity on the cross section of a concrete core, dark red represents high chlorine content.
The state of the art of LIBS technique for applications in civil engineering will be presented, including typical results of 2D investigation of concrete in laboratory. The performance is also demonstrated by examples for onsite applications using a mobile LIBS system. The road map to standardization is presented as well.
Laser-induced plasmas are widely used in many areas of science and technology; examples include spectrochemical analysis, thin film deposition, material processing, and even jet propulsion. Several topics will be addressed. First, general phenomenology of laser-induced plasmas will be discussed. Then, a chemical model will be presented based on a coupled solution of Navier-Stokes, state, radiative transfer, material transport, and chemical (Guldberg-Waage) equations. Results of computer simulations for several chemical systems will be shown and compared to experimental observations obtained by optical imaging, spectroscopy, and tomography. The latter diagnostic tools will also be briefly discussed.
Stimulated emission observed experimentally in aluminum laser induced plasma is modeled via a kinetic approach. The simulated emission at several cascade transitions is created by a pump laser guided through the plasma at several microseconds after its creation and tuned in resonance with the strong transition at 266 nm. A two-dimensional space-time collisional radiative plasma model explains the creation of the population inversion and lasing at wavelengths 2.1 μm and 396.1 nm. The population inversion for lasing at 2.1 μm is created by depopulation of the ground state and population of the upper state via absorption of resonant radiation at 266 nm. The population inversion for lasing at 396.1 nm occurs during the laser pulse via the decay of the population of the pumped upper state to the lasing state via cascade transitions driven optically and by collisions. The model predicts that the population inversion and corresponding gain may reach high values even at moderate pump energies of several μJ per pulse. The efficiency of lasing at 2.1 μm and 396.1 nm is estimated to be on the order of a percent of laser pump energy. The polarization effect that the pump radiation at 266 nm imposes on the stimulated emission at 396.1 nm is discussed. The calculated results are favorably compared to experiment.
An improved algorithm for calibration-free laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (CF LIBS) is presented which includes several novel features in comparison with previously proposed similar algorithms. In particular, it allows using spectral lines with arbitrary optical thickness for the construction of Saha-Boltzmann plots, retrieves the absorption path length (plasma diameter) directly from a spectrum, replaces the Lorentzian line profile function by the Voigt function, and allows for self-absorption correction using pre-calculated and tabulated data rather than approximating functions. The tabulated data embody the solutions of the radiative transfer equation for numerous combinations of optical thicknesses and line widths. The algorithm is used to analyze 100 low alloy steel spectra.
The application of a LIBS system is presented. A diode-pumped low energy laser (3 mJ, 1.5 ns, 100 Hz) and a compact NIR spectrometer are used. A scanner allows the two-dimensional element mapping. For the quantitative analysis calibration of the system is carried out with reference samples in a concentration range of chlorine of 0.05 wt.% to 2.5 wt.%. To determine the 2D distribution of harmful elements (Cl, C), concrete cores were drilled, split and analyzed directly. By comparing the chloride ingress and the carbonation, the interaction of both processes can be visualized in one measurement that takes less than 10 minutes with a drill core of 50 mm x 100 mm. Results obtained were compared and verified with standard measurements.
Es wird ein alternatives Verfahren zur schnellen zweidimensionalen Analyse der chemischen Zusammensetzung von Baustoffen vorgestellt. Dieses beruht auf der Kombination des Abtrags einer geringen Materialmenge durch einen gepulsten Laser, der Plasmaerzeugung und der Analyse der Lichtemission des Plasmas mittels optischer Spektroskopie. Es können prinzipiell alle Elemente gleichzeitig nachgewiesen werden. Damit ist es möglich einerseits Informationen über den Baustoff an sich als auch über den Eintrag potentiell schädigender Elemente (z. B. Cl, C, Na, K, S) zu gewinnen. Das Verfahren kann automatisiert im Labor oder als mobile Version direkt vor Ort eingesetzt werden. Es liefert zweidimensionale Bilder der Elementverteilung in Echtzeit. Es kann ohne große Probenvorbereitung z. B. direkt an der Querschnittsfläche eines Bohrkernes gemessen werden. Die Messung dauert nur wenige Minuten. Das Prinzip der Messung, die Vor- und die Nachteile, sowie die verfügbare Gerätetechnik für den Einsatz im Labor oder direkt am Bauwerk werden vorgestellt. Abschließend werden praktische Beispiele für die Anwendung des LIBS-Verfahrens zur Erfassung des Chlorid-Eintrages, der Karbonatisierung und der Verteilung von Schwefel präsentiert.
Asymmetrical laser-induced plasmas were investigated by a tomography approach based on the inverse Radon transform. Two distinct sources of asymmetricity were investigated: double-pulsed laser-induced plasmas in the orthogonal configuration and single-pulsed laser-induced plasmas under an inclined incidence angle. Both cases were observed at various delay times. The optical thinness of the laser-induced plasmas was achieved by appropriately adjusting the pulse energies. High temporal resolution is achieved by a gated intensified charge-coupled-device camera. The asymmetrical laser-induced plasmas are investigated in terms of their total emissivity, spectrally resolved emissivity, and temperature. The latter is obtained by the Saha–Boltzmann plot method. The images required for the inverse Radon transform technique were obtained with a high angular accuracy and reproducibility provided by mounting the spectrometer on a high-precision nano-positioning rotary stage. The plasmas were induced in the center of rotation of the stage. This arrangement allows the reconstruction of emissivity, which is integrated over a full spectral range (200-800 nm) or over a desired spectral range selected by a bandpass filter (~10 nm). It also allows for the reconstruction of spectrally-resolved emissivity in each cross sectional plasma slice by scanning the plasma across a spectrometer slit. The 3D maps of temperature and electron density are thus obtained for different types of asymmetric plasmas.
A goal of this work is to apply the model, which was initially developed for laser induced plasmas, to plasmas used in chemical reactors, in particular, the inductively-coupled-RF discharge plasma. The model predicts equilibrium chemical compositions of reaction mixtures as functions of plasma temperature and stoichiometry of reactants. The mixtures investigated are BCl3/H2/Ar and BF3/H2/Ar where Ar serves as the plasma-forming gas and H2 as a binding agent which binds the active species Cl and F and Cl- and F-containing intermediates to produce gaseous B and its condensate. An additional goal is to obtain information about intermediate reaction products for different ratios of BCl3/H2 and BF3/H2 and at different temperatures and different Ar flow rates. Also, chemical reactions in laser induced plasmas (LIPs) created on calcium hydrate and calcium carbonate targets in argon are modeled. The results are compared with those obtained by means of the equilibrium model based on the minimization of Gibbs free energy.
Molecule formation in calcium carbonate and calcium hydroxide libs plasmas: model and experiment
(2019)
Analysis of calcium hydrate and calcium carbonate samples and their mixtures is important for archeology, anthropology, and geology. Laser-induced plasma spectroscopy (LIBS) is a suitable tool for such the analysis as it allows for in- and on-line real time chemical assays. LIBS is inherently a technique for atomic analysis; however, since recently, it is also used for molecular analysis. The information attained by the latter is mainly related to “secondary” chemistry that deals with re-association of atoms and ions into molecules at long delay times (≥10 μs) after the initial breakdown. Even though the direct information about the initial molecular content in the target may be lost, the molecular analysis by LIBS can still be useful to assess the composition of samples.
In this work, chemical reactions in laser induced plasmas (LIPs) created on calcium hydrate and calcium carbonate targets in argon are modeled and compared to experiment. The model is based on the assumption that all ionization processes and chemical reactions are at local thermodynamic equilibrium. A chemical composition of argon-calcium-oxygen and argon-calcium-hydrogen plasmas is studied as a function of plasma temperature and pressure. It is established that more than twenty simple and composite molecules and ions can be formed in the course of chemical reactions. The results are compared with those obtained by means of the equilibrium model based on the minimization of Gibbs free energy.
A goal of this work is to apply the model, which was initially developed for laser induced plasmas, to plasmas used in chemical reactors, in particular, the inductively-coupled-RF discharge plasma. The model predicts equilibrium chemical compositions of reaction mixtures as functions of plasma temperature and stoichiometry of reactants. The mixtures investigated are BCl3/H2/Ar and BF3/H2/Ar where Ar serves as the plasma-forming gas and H2 as a binding agent which binds the active species Cl and F and Cl- and F-containing intermediates to produce gaseous B and its condensate. An additional goal is to obtain information about intermediate reaction products for different ratios of BCl3/H2 and BF3/H2 and at different temperatures and different Ar flow rates. Also, chemical reactions in laser induced plasmas (LIPs) created on calcium hydrate and calcium carbonate targets in argon are modeled. The results are compared with those obtained by means of the equilibrium model based on the minimization of Gibbs free energy.
High purity halides of III-VI group elements, especially chloride and fluorides, are used in gas phase technologies for obtaining high purity materials and coatings. The reduction of halides in hydrogen-halide mixtures can be achieved in various discharge plasmas, e.g. inductively coupled, ark, and even laser-induced plasmas. Existing models of such plasmas are not sufficiently accurate to predict a yield of the targeted compounds and to describe the plasma processes involved in formation of these compounds. Besides, a construction of costly plasma-chemical reactors can be alleviated by the prior modeling of plasma processes that may occur in such reactors.
A goal of this work is to extend the model, which was initially developed for laser induced Plasmas, to plasmas used in chemical reactors, in particular, the inductively-coupled-RF discharge Plasma. The model predicts equilibrium chemical compositions of reaction mixtures as functions of plasma temperature and stoichiometry of reactants. The mixtures investigated are BCl3/H2/Ar and BF3/H2/Ar where Ar serves as the plasma-forming gas and H2 as a binding agent which binds the active species Cl and F and Cl- and F-containing intermediates to produce gaseous B and its condensate. An additional goal is to obtain information about intermediate reaction products for different ratios of BCl3/H2 and BF3/H2 and at different temperatures and different Ar flow rates.
It is found that the desired components B and B2 appear at appreciable concentrations of >0.1% and ~0.01% respectively only at temperatures above 3000 K. It is also established that the effect of charged species on the reaction products is miniscule for temperatures below 5000 K. The expected yield of boron as a function of the original mole fraction H2/BCl3 and H2/BF3 is calculated. The mole fractions are varied in the range 0.1-1000 and the temperature in the range 1000-10000 K. It is shown that the yield of boron increases with increasing the molar ratio H2/BCl3 and H2/BF3 up to ~100 in the temperature range 2000-5000 K. At higher temperatures, T>5000 K, the boron concentration reaches its maximum and does not depend on the concentration of hydrogen; all molecules dissociate and chemical reactions proceed only between charged particles (mostly elemental ions) and electrons. The calculated plasma parameters and composition are compared with experimental data obtained by optical emission spectroscopy. The calculated plasma temperature and electron density are shown to be in good agreement with the measured ones.
A goal of this work is to extend the model, which was initially developed for laser induced plasmas, to plasmas used in chemical reactors, in particular, the inductively-coupled-RF discharge plasma. The model predicts equilibrium chemical compositions of reaction mixtures as functions of plasma temperature and stoichiometry of reactants. The mixtures investigated are BCl3/H2/Ar and BF3/H2/Ar where Ar serves as the plasma-forming gas and H2 as a binding agent which binds the active species Cl and F and Cl- and F-containing intermediates to produce gaseous B and its condensate. An additional goal is to obtain information about intermediate reaction products for different ratios of BCl3/H2 and BF3/H2 and at different temperatures and different Ar flow rates.
It is found that the desired components B and B2 appear at appreciable concentrations of >0.1% and ~0.01% respectively only at temperatures above 3000 K. It is also established that the effect of charged species on the reaction products is miniscule for temperatures below 5000 K. The expected yield of boron as a function of the original mole fraction H2/BCl3 and H2/BF3 is calculated. The mole fractions are varied in the range 0.1-1000 and the temperature in the range 1000-10000 K. It is shown that the yield of boron increases with increasing the molar ratio H2/BCl3 and H2/BF3 up to ~100 in the temperature range 2000-5000 K. At higher temperatures, T>5000 K, the boron concentration reaches its maximum and does not depend on the concentration of hydrogen; all molecules dissociate and chemical reactions proceed only between charged particles (mostly elemental ions) and electrons. The calculated plasma parameters and composition are compared with experimental data obtained by optical emission spectroscopy. The calculated plasma temperature and electron density are shown to be in good agreement with the measured ones.
Magnesium is a naturally occurring element that can be found in several mineral forms in the earth crust. This element presents three stable isotopes 24Mg, 25Mg and 26Mg with a natural abundance of 79%, 10%, and 11% respectively. It is due to their relatively large mass difference (~8% between 24Mg and 26Mg) that isotope fractionation leads to slight isotope amount ratio variations n(26Mg)/n(24Mg) in biological and geological samples. Traditionally, isotope amount ratios have been measured by mass spectrometric methods. However, drawbacks of these methods include the high costs for instruments and their operation, experienced operators and elaborate chromatographic sample preparation which are time-consuming. Recently, optical spectrometric methods have been proposed as faster and low-cost alternative for the analysis of isotope ratios of selected elements by means of high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry (HR-CS-GFMAS) and laser ablation molecular isotopic spectrometry (LAMIS). For the determination of Mg isotope amount ratios, the molecular spectrum of the in-situ generated MgF and MgO molecules were studied. In the case of HR-CS-GFMAS, the absorption spectrum was recorded for MgF for the electronic transitions X 2Σ → A 2 Πi and X 2Σ → B 2Σ+ around wavelengths 358 nm and 268 nm respectively. In the case of LAMIS, it was studied the MgF molecule for the electronic transitions A 2Πi → X 2Σ as well as the MgO molecule for the electronic transition A 1Π+ → X 1Σ around 500 nm. The MgF and MgO spectra are composed by the linear combination of their isotopic components or isotopologues: 24MgF, 25MgF, and 26MgF for the MgF and 24MgO, 25MgO, and 26MgO for the MgO (F is monoisotopic, and the isotope composition of O is assumed as constant). By HR-CS-GFMAS the analysis of Mg was done by deconvolution of the MgF spectrum by a partial least square regression (PLS) calibrated with enriched isotope spikes. The isotope amount ratios in rock samples with and without matrix separation were analyzed. Resulting delta values were obtained with precisions ranging between 0.2-0.5 ‰. On the other hand, LAMIS allows the direct analysis of solid samples with the extended possibility of in-situ analysis. Main advantages, limitations, and scopes of both optical techniques are going to be discussed and compared with MC-ICP-MS.
Mass spectrometric Methods MC-ICP-MS and TIMS) are without doubt the working horse of stable isotope analysis. However, drawbacks of these methods include the high costs for instruments and their operation, experienced operators and elaborate chromatographic sample preparation which are time consuming.
Optical spectrometric methods are proposed as faster and low-cost alternative for the analysis of isotope ratios of selected elements by means of high-resolution continuum source molecular absorption spectrometry (HR-CS-MAS) and laser ablation molecular isotopic spectrometry (LAMIS). First, stable isotope amount compositions of boron (B) and magnesium (Mg) were determined based on the absorption spectra of in-situ generated heteronuclear diatomic molecules (MH or MX) in graphite furnace HR-CS-MAS. The use of a modular simultaneous echelle spectrograph (MOSES) helps to find the maximal isotope shift in the diatomic molecular spectra produced in a graphite furnace by using isotopic spike solutions. Isotopes of boron (10B and 11B) were studied via their hydrides for the electronic transition X 1Σ+ → A 1Π. The spectrum of a given sample is a linear combination of the 10BH molecule and its isotopologue 11BH. Therefore, the isotopic composition of samples can be calculated by a partial least square regression (PLS). For this, a spectral library was built by using samples and spikes with known isotope composition. Boron isotope ratios measured by HR-CS-MAS are identical with those measured by mass spectrometric methods at the 0.15 ‰ level. Similar results were obtained for a multiple isotope system like Mg (24Mg, 25Mg, and 26Mg), where isotope shifts of their isotopologues can be resolved in the MgF molecule for the electronic transition X 2Σ → A 2 Πi. Finally, the application of molecular spectrometry via emission by LAMIS is compared and discussed.
Society for Applied Spectroscopy (SAS) Atomic Section Student Award.
Magnesium is a major element in the hydrosphere and biosphere and plays important roles in (bio-) geochemical and physiological cycles. Mg has three stable isotopes, 24Mg, 25Mg and 26Mg. It is due to their relatively large mass difference (~8% between) that isotope fractionation leads to slight variations of isotope amount ratios in biological, environmental and geological samples. Traditionally, isotope ratios are measured by mass spectrometric methods. Their drawbacks include the high costs for instruments and their operation, experienced operators and elaborate time-consuming chromatographic sample preparation.
Recently, optical spectrometric methods have been proposed as faster and low-cost alternative for the analysis of isotope ratios of selected elements by means of high-resolution continuum source molecular absorption spectrometry (HR-CS-MAS), and laser ablation molecular isotopic spectrometry (LAMIS).
For the determination of Mg isotope ratios in selected rock reference materials, the molecular spectrum of the in-situ generated MgF and MgO molecules were studied and their results compared with MC-ICP-MS. By HR-CS-MAS, samples were dissolved by acid digestion and Mg isotopes analyzed with and without matrix. The absorption spectrum was recorded for MgF for the electronic transitions X 2Σ → A 2 Πi, and X 2Σ → B 2Σ+. In the case of LAMIS, we investigated the MgF molecule for the electronic transition A 2Πi → X 2Σ, as well as direct analysis by the MgO molecule for the electronic transition A 1Π+ → X 1Σ. The MgF and MgO spectra are described as the linear combination of their isotopic components or isotopologues: 24MgF, 25MgF, and 26MgF for the MgF and 24MgO, 25MgO, and 26MgO for the MgO. The isotope analysis was done by deconvolution of the MgF spectrum by partial least square regression (PLS) calibrated with enriched isotope spikes. Results were accurate with precisions ranging between 0.2 ‰ and 0.8 ‰ (2 SD, n= 10) for HR-CS-GFMAS. No statistically significant differences were observed for samples w/o matrix extraction. On the other hand, LAMIS allows the direct analysis of solid samples with the extended possibility of direct analysis, however the precision is lower due the lack of solid isotopic calibration standards.
Magnesium (Mg) is a major element in a range of silicate and carbonate minerals, the hydrosphere and biosphere and plays important roles in (bio-) geochemical and physiological cycles. Mg has three stable isotopes, 24Mg, 25Mg and 26Mg with natural abundances of 79 %, 10 %, and 11 %, respectively. It is due to their relatively large mass difference (~8% between 24Mg and 26Mg) that isotope fractionation leads to slight variations of isotope amount ratios n(26Mg)/n(24Mg) in biological, environmental and geological samples. Traditionally, isotope ratios are measured by mass spectrometric methods and isotope ratios are expressed as deviation from an internationally agreed upon material, i.e. the zero-point of the δ-value scale. Drawbacks of this method include the high costs for instruments and their operation, experienced operators and elaborate, time-consuming chromatographic sample preparation.
Recently, optical spectrometric methods have been proposed as faster and low-cost alternative for the analysis of isotope ratios of selected elements by means of high- resolution continuum source graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry (HR- CS-GFMAS) and laser ablation molecular isotopic spectrometry (LAMIS).
For the determination of Mg isotope amount ratios, the molecular spectrum of the in-situ generated MgF and MgO molecules were studied. In the case of HR-CS-GFMAS, the absorption spectrum was recorded for MgF for the electronic transitions X2Σ → A2Πi and X 2Σ → B2Σ+ around wavelengths 358 nm and 268 nm, respectively. In the case of LAMIS, we investigated the MgF molecule for the electronic transition A2Πi → X2Σ as well as the MgO molecule for the electronic transition A1Π+ → X1Σ around 500 nm. The MgF and MgO spectra are described by the linear combination of their isotopic components or isotopologues: 24MgF, 25MgF, and 26MgF for the MgF and 24MgO, 25MgO, and 26MgO for the MgO (F is monoisotopic, and the isotope composition of O is assumed as constant). By HR-CS-GFMAS the analysis of Mg was done by deconvolution of the MgF spectrum by partial least square regression (PLS) calibrated with enriched isotope spikes. Isotope amount ratios in rock samples with and without matrix separation were analyzed. Calculated δ-values were accurate and obtained with precisions ranging between 0.2 ‰ and 0.5 ‰ (1 SD, n = 10). On the other hand, LAMIS allows the direct analysis of solid samples with the extended possibility of in-situ analysis. Main advantages, limitations, and scopes of both optical techniques are going to be discussed and compared to MC-ICP-MS.