The use of laser-induced breakdown spectrometry (LIBS) for the analysis of heavy metals and brominated flame retardants in end-of-life waste electric and electronic equipment (EOL-WEEE) pieces is investigated. Single- and double-pulse plasma excitation as well as the influence of detection parameters is studied to yield a parameter field with improved sensitivity and limits of detection. A LIBS analyzer was set up as an on-line measuring unit to detect heavy metals and brominated flame retardants in moving EOL-WEEE pieces in an automatic sorting line. An autofocusing unit with an adjustment range of 50 mm was incorporated to permit measurements of objects that pass by a LIBS analyzer with their surfaces at various distances from it. Tests with EOL-WEEE monitor housings on the conveyor belt of a pilot sorting system successfully demonstrated the capability of the LIBS analyzer to quantify the concentration of hazardous elements in real waste EOL-WEEE pieces.

© 2003 Optical Society of America

[Optical Society of America ]

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Citation lists with outbound citation links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article level metrics are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

Related Journal Articles

• Low-threshold lasing of a Rhodamine dye solution embedded with nanoparticle fractal aggregates (OL)
• Spectroscopic temperature determination of aluminum monoxide in laser ablation with 266-nm radiation (OL)
• Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectrometry as a Multimetal Continuous-Emission Monitor (AO)
• Laser-Raster Spectrometer for Time-Resolved Recording of Transient Absorption (AO)
• Infrared intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy with a continuous-scan Fourier-transform interferometer (AO)

Related Conference Papers

• Determination of trace element concentrations in vegetation by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy
• Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) study of surface oxidation of bulk aluminum and aluminum particles
• Wavelength Dependence of Quantitative Emission Levels from Femtosecond Microplasmas for Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
• Multiple Emission Line Elemental Analysis of LIBS Plasmas for Improved Measurement Accuracy
• LIBS analysis of pharmaceutical solid dosage forms