Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was evaluated to determine elements collected on swipes as surface contamination. A series of long laser plasmas formed along the swipe surface (Post-it paper) interrogated the collected contamination. LIBS detection limits, determined for the elements Ag, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, and Zn on swipes ( $2{\mathrm{cm}}^2$ area), ranged from $0.002\mathrm{\mu g}$ (Be) to $1.46\mathrm{\mu g}$ (Pb). The elements were introduced as constituents of synthetic silicate particles serving as a contaminant dust stimulant. The average predicted mass was within 16% of the actual mass on the swipe. The efficiency of collecting particles from surfaces including plastic, Formica, and Al metal was also evaluated. The ability to detect and differentiate two amino acids on a swipe from each other and from the swipe using chemometric modeling techniques was also demonstrated.

© 2010 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. Figure files 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

• Performance Characteristics of Soot Primary Particle Size Measurements by Time-Resolved Laser-Induced Incandescence (AO)
• Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectrometry as a Multimetal Continuous-Emission Monitor (AO)
• Laser-generated spark morphology and temperature records from emission and Rayleigh scattering studies (AO)
• Determination of Primary Particle Size Distributions from Time-Resolved Laser-Induced Incandescence Measurements (AO)
• Spatial and Temporal Evolution of Argon Sparks (AO)

Related Conference Papers

• Characterization of malignant tissue cells using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy
• Reduction of spatial effects on emission line intensity observed from single aerosol particles via diffuse reflectance from an integrating sphere
• Nd:YAG-CO²Double-Pulse Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for Explosive Detection
• LIBS in Industry: Sparks Fly
• Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy of the Rock