Application of LIBS technology to the rapid measure of heavy metal contamination in soils

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy(LIBS) has emerged in the past ten years as a promising technique for analysis and measure. The fundamental principle of LIBS for in situ qualitative and quantitative analysis is introduced. Current development of the instrument and its applications in rapid detection of heavy metal contamination elements, such as As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb and Zn in soils are reviewed in detail. The critical problems such as how to achieve quantitative measurement and improve the detection limit of LIBS are discussed