Enhanced Sensitivity of Direct Beryllium Determination in Soil by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectrometry

Beryllium is an extremely hazardous substance because of its effects on the human body. Regulatory standards establishing the maximum permissible concentration of Be in soils of farmlands and population centers at 1.08 mg/kg are currently in the approval process. Be in soils could be determined below this level by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) using UV laser radiation (355 nm). A recording delay of 0.75 mu s and an exposure of 1 mu s were optimal for the LIBS Be analysis. The Be detection limit in soils under these conditions was 0.07 mg/kg.