Quantifying of Radioactive Elements in Soil, Water and Plant Samples Using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) Technique

Volume 9, Issue 4, April – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24APR105
Quantifying of Radioactive Elements in Soil,

Water and Plant Samples using Laser Induced
Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) Technique
Faycal Ghourbal Abdoulaye1 Omar Bashir Adam Yousef2
1 2
Department of Physics-Faculty of Education- University of Department of Physics-Faculty of Education- University of
Nyala-Sudan & Department of Physics-Faculty of Science Nyala-Sudan
and Technology-ADM BARKA University-Abèché-Tchad
M.A. Abdalrasool3 A.S. Hamid4

4
3Department of Physics- College of Science- Sudan Renewable and Alternative Energy Researches Centre - Al
University of Science and Technology & Department of Neelain University, Khartoum- Sudan & Department of
Material Science- Faculty of Science & Technology, Al- Laser & Renewable Energy- Faculty of Science &
Neelain University, Khartoum- Sudan Technology- Al-Neelain University, Khartoum, -Sudan
Mohmed Ibrahim Mohamed Omer 5

5
Department of Physics-Faculty of Education, Nile Valley University -Sudan
Abstract:- In this study, the laser-induced breakdown effects in addition to radiation burns (similar to thermal burns)
spectroscopy (LIBS) technique was applied to detect These effects depending on the type of radiation, the exposure
radioactive elements on surface soil, plant leaves dose, the time exposure, and the sensitivity of the exposed
(Tamarindus indica), and flow water collected from Bala, tissues [4,5].
Mayo-Kebbi Quest, Chad. The survey process indicates
that the samples contain radioactive elements U, Fr, Ce, Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) involves
Ac, Cm, Tb, and Pm. The concentrations of the detected the collection and processing of the spectral signature
elements in samples were determined using the resulting from a high-irradiance pulsed laser generated plasma
calibration curve method, while the plasma temperatures containing an analyte [6-8]. It is also regarded as a sensitive
(Texc) and electron density (Ne) of the detected radioactive technique that can detect most elements in the range of μg g-
elements were calculated from Boltzmann linear plots. 1[9]. The purpose of this study is to determine the radioactive
Except for uranium, all elements in the soil sample had elements contained in soil, water, and plant (Tamarindus
amounts below the acceptable limit. The concentration of indica) samples taken in Bala, Mayo-Kebbi Quest, Chad. The
uranium in soil samples ranges from 0.024236 to 0.23439 presence of these elements can have major biological
ppm, with a safety limit of 0.03 ppm. The average plasma consequences.
temperature Texc for uranium (U) is 700, while the
electron density Ne is 500 cm-3. II. METHOD
Keywords:- LIBS, Plasma, Radioactive, Tamarindus Indica, Samples collection: In present work, a total of three
Temperature and Electron Density. samples of soil, water, and plan leaves (Tamarindus indica)
have been collected from Bala, Mayo-Kebbi Quest, Chad (9o,
I. INTRODUCTION 21'48" N14o54'36" E). The sample of soil was taken from the
surface; the plant sample was Tamarindus indica leaves; and
Radioactive materials are substances that contain the water sample was running water. All samples were used
unstable nuclei that spontaneously emit radiation in the form without treatment.
of alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays in order to
stabilize themselves in process known as radioactive decay LIBS Setup: The analysis of (surface soil, Plant
[1,2]. These materials can be found naturally or artificially (Tamarindus indica) and water) samples was carried out using
produced in laboratories [3]. Exposure to radiation cause set up depicted schematically in Fig (1).
Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS) (nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea, and weakness. Exposure to radiation cause Acute
Radiation Syndrome (ARS), it is increasing the risk of
developing cancer and genetic Effects (DNA mutations),
likewise it can lead to organ damage Also, it can cause
cardiovascular disease and cataracts as long-term health
IJISRT24APR105 www.ijisrt.com 1149

(1)
Where νji is the frequency of the transition from state

j→i, Aij the Einstein coefficient for spontaneous emission, Nj
the population of the upper-level j and h is the Planks
constant [14-16]. The calibration curve for radioactive
elements in soil, water, and plant samples is illustrated in
figure (3), the concentration of detected elements ranged
from 200 ppm for A to 500 ppm for X, as shown in table 1.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the
results demonstrate that the concentration of all elements,
except uranium, on the soil sample is within the permissible
range. Uranium concentrations in soil samples ranged from
0.024236 to 0.23439 ppm, while in water and plant samples
they were 0.024705 ppm, with a safety limit of 0.03 ppm.
As uranium exceeded the permissible safety limits, it

Fig 1 Shows the Experimental Setup for LIBS Evaluation of was necessary to know the risk involved. Uranium can cause
Soil, Plants, and Water both radiological and chemical toxicity, and the quantity and
duration of exposure influence the health effects, with the
The LIBS system includes an Ocean Optics LIBS 2000+ kidneys and lungs being the main targets. Workers who have
spectrometer, a sample container, a diode laser, and OOILIBS been exposed to uranium have reported some impairment of
software. The 400 nm radiation released at fundamental kidney function. Inhaled insoluble uranium particles, 1–10
frequency from the diode laser was used to generate a plasma µm in size, can cause lung irradiation damage and cancer if
spark on the target surface. A convex lens (focal length 30 exposed to a high enough radiation dosage over time. Even
mm) was used for focus the laser beam onto sample. The after many weeks, direct dealing with the uranium in metallic
pulse energy used in these experiments was equal to 100 mJ. form is likely to result in radiation-induced erythema or other
The light from the plasma spark is captured via an optical short-term consequences [17,18].
cable equipped with a SMA connection. The USB 2000+ has
four spectrometer modules that give high resolution (FWHM Plasma temperatures Texc and electron density Ne of all
0.1 nm) and a gated CCD detector with 14,336 pixels for identified elements were determined using Boltzmann linear
simultaneous spectra recording in the 400 nm to 1150 nm plots based on Eq (1). The population density of upper-level
wavelength range. The emission is collected at a 45° angle Nj is related to ground-level number density (N) by
from the incoming laser energy. The data was then captured Boltzmann's equation [16].
and used to reconstruct the spectrum [10-13].
(2)
III. RESULTS & DISCUSSION
 By Substate the Value of Nj we get:
 After the Samples were Collected, the Experiment was
Carried Out, and the Results were Shown as Follows:
(3)
Figure (2) displays the spectrum of three samples (soil,
plant, and water). The recorded spectra were analyzed with
the aid of the NIST database. The spectra of three samples In the equation above, gj is the statistical weight, Ej is
showed several radioactive elements (U, Fr, Ce, Ac, Cm, Tb, the energy of upper- level j, Q is the partition function, K is
and Pm). Boltzmann's constant, and T is the plasma's electron
temperature.
The concentration of the identified elements was
calculated using the calibration curve method using the total
intensity of a spectral line (I) from an excited atom or ion in
plasma during a transition from state j→i. It is given by.

Fig 2 LIBS Spectrum of Soil, Water and Plant Samples Irradiated with100 mJ
Fig 3 Calibration Curve for Radioactive Elements Detected in Soil, Water and Plant Samples Obtained using
Analytic Calibration Function

Table 1 Analyzed Data of Libs Spectra Soil, Water and Plant Samples Irradiated by 400 Mj
The temperature and electron density were evaluated using the Boltzmann plot by plotting ln (I λ/g jAij) as a function of
energy (Ej/kB) [19,20], as displayed in figure (4).
Fig 4 Shows a Typical Linear Boltzmann Plot for Calculating Plasma Temperature for Radioactive Elements
Exist on Soil, Water, and Plant Samples
 The Plasma Electronic Density can be Determined using the Following Relation:
(4)
Where T is the Plasma Temperature (K) and Eij is the transition energy (eV) [21,22].

Table 1 Plasma Temperature and Electron Density of Radioactive Elements Detected in Soil,
Water and Plant Samples Irradiated by 400 Mj
samples
Elements
Cm I UI Ce I Fr I Ac Tb Pm
4223
(1020cm-3) (Ko) (1020cm-3) (Ko) (1020cm-3) (Ko)
Texc
3310 3531 2313

3907
Soil
9.509
Ne
7.171 5.142 0.863

2.607
Texc
3920 4278 2476

Water
Ne
2.615 7.303 1.329

Texc
3920 3549 3477 2846

Plant
Ne
2.616 5.168 7.168 2.884
IV. CONCLUSIONS [6]. David A. Cremers, Sebastien Mauchien, and Milos,

Advances in Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy,
This paper presents an investigation of surface soil, plant Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy,
(Tamarindus indica), and flow water taken from Bala, Mayo- Elsever, Volume 166, April 2020, 105799,
Kebbi Quest, Chad, using LIBS technology. The study of the https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sab.2020.105799.
spectra with the aid of NIST revealed seven radioactive [7]. Jinto Thomas &Hem Chandra Joshi, Review on laser-
elements (Cm, U, Ce, Ac, Fr, Tb, and Pm); the concentrations induced breakdown spectroscopy: methodology and
of identified elements are within the allowed safety level technical developments, Applied Spectroscopy
except for uranium, but the cumulative impact must be Reviews Volume 59, 2024 -Issue1, Pages 124-155 |
considered to avoid biological consequences and mutations. Published online: 23 Mar 2023,
doi.org/10.1080/05704928. 2023.2187817
REFERENCES [8]. T Hussain1 and M A Gondal, Laser induced
breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) as a rapid tool, for
[1]. Michael F. L’Annunziata, Radioactivity: Introduction material analysis, 6th Vacuum and Surface Sciences
and History from the quantum to quarks, 1st edition, Conference of Asia and Australia (VASSCAA-6),
Alsevier Science, June 24,2016. ISBN-13:978- Journal of Physics: Conference Series 439 (2013)
0444634894. 012050, IOP Publishing, doi:10.1088/1742-
[2]. John R. Lamarsh and Anthony J. Baratta, Introduction 6596/439/1/012050.
to Nuclear Engineering, 4th edition, Pearson, January [9]. Paulino R. Villas-Boas , Marco A. Franco, Ladislau
9,2017, ISBN-13:978-0134570057. Martin-Neto ,Hero T. Gollany and Debora M. B. P.
[3]. Glenn F. Knoll, Radiation Detection and Milori, Applications of laser-induced breakdown
Measurement, 4th edition, Wiley, August 16,2010, spectroscopy for soil analysis, part I: Review of
ISBN-13:978-0470131480. fundamentals and chemical and physical properties,
[4]. Michael F. L’Annunziata, Radioactivity History, European Journal of soil science, DOI:
Science, Vital Uses and Ominous Peril, 3rd edition, 10.1111/ejss.12888, 2019;1–16. ).
Alsevier Science, August 1,2022. ISBN-13:978- [10]. Hiba J. Alamin, A. M. Awadelgied, Kh M. Haroun,
0444634894 Abdalskhi.S.M., Spectroscopic Detection of Main
[5]. Thomas E. Johnson, Health Physics: Radiation- Elements (C, H, O, N and S) of Crude Oil Sample
Generating Devices, Characteristics, and Hazards, 1st from Melut Oilfield in Sudan Using Laser Induced
edition, Wiley-VCH, July 12,2016, ISBN-13:978- Breakdown Spectroscopy, International Journal of
3527411832 Innovative Science and Research Technology, Volume
4, Issue 4, April – 2019, ISSN No:-2456-2165.

[11]. Zeinab M.Mohammed, Kh M. Haroun, Mona Ali , [20]. Mahmoud Al-Salihi, Rongxing Yi, Shiqi Wang, Qiang
Abdalskhi S. M. H, Detection of Technetium on Soil, Wu, Fangrui Lin, Junle Qu, and Liwei Liu,
Plant and Water in the Area around Khartoum Quantitative laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for
Petroleum Refinery by using Laser Induced discriminating neoplastic tissues from non-neoplastic
Breakdown Spectroscopy, International Journal of ones, Optics Express, Vol. 29, No. 3 / 1 February
Innovative Research in Sciences and Engineering 2021, https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.410878.
Studies (IJIRSES), ISSN: 2583-1658 | Volume: 2 [21]. Julian Stetzler, Shijun Tang and Rosemarie C. Chinni,
Issue: 7 | 2022. Plasma Temperature and Electron Density
[12]. Richard Viskup, Christoph Wolf and Werner Determination Using Laser-Induced Breakdown
Baumgartner, Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Spectroscopy (LIBS) in Earth’s and Mars’s
of Diesel Particulate Matter Exhaust Emissions Atmospheres, MDPI,Atoms 2020, 8, 50;
Generated from on Road Diesel Engine: Light Duty doi:10.3390/atoms8030050.
Vehicles, 7th International Conference on Photonics, [22]. A.H. Ahooeea, E. Hajiali, N. Amiri Rad, D. Shahabi,
Optics and Laser Technology (PHOTOPTICS 2019), Statistical Investigation of Electron Density of Laser-
pages 308-314, Science and Technology Publications, Air Interaction Sys-tem Using Saha Relation in Local
Lda., 2019. Thermodynamic Equilibrium, Transactions in
[13]. Nurul Absar, Jainal Abedin, Md. Mashiur Rahman, Theoretical and Mathematical Physics, TTMP vol 1(1),
Moazzem Hossain Miah, Naziba Siddique,Masud 2024 doi: 10.30511/TTMP.2023.709327.
Kamal, Mantazul Islam Chowdhury, Abdelmoneim
Adam Mohamed Sulieman , Mohammad Rashed Iqbal
Faruque , Mayeen Uddin Khandaker, David Andrew
Bradley and Abdullah Alsubaie, Radionuclides
Transfer from Soil to Tea Leaves and Estimation of
Committed Effective Dose to the Bangladesh
Populace, Life,MDPI 2021, 11,282.
https://doi.org/10.3390/life11040282.
[14]. Vinicius C. Costa, Diego V. Babos,b Jeyne P. Castro,
Daniel F. Andrade, Raimundo R. Gamela,b Raquel C.
Machado, Marco A. Sperança, Alisson S. Araújo, José
A. Garciab and Edenir R. Pereira-Filho, Calibration
Strategies Applied to Laser-Induced Breakdown
Spectroscopy: A Critical Review of Advances and
Challenges, J. Braz. Chem. Soc., Vol. 31, No. 12,
2439-2451, 2020, https://dx.doi.org/10.21577/0103-
5053.20200175.
[15]. Eleonora D’Andrea, Stefano Pagnotta, Emanuela
Grifoni, Stefano Legnaioli, Giulia Lorenzetti,
Vincenzo Palleschi, Beatrice Lazzerini, A Hybrid
Calibration-Free/Artificial Neural Networks Approach
to the Quantitative Analysis of LIBS Spectra, Applied
Physics B, Springer, laser and optics, volume 118,
pages353-360,01 January 2015, DOI:10.1007/s00340-
014-5990-z.
[16]. Ashwin P. Rao, Matthew T. Cook, Howard L. Hall,
and Michael B. Shattan, Quantitative Analysis of
Cerium-Gallium Alloys Using a Hand-Held Laser
Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Device, Atoms
2019, 7, 84; doi:10.3390/atoms7030084,
[17]. Nuclear Safety Review 2023, IAEA/NSR/2023,
Printed in the IAEA in Austria August 2023.
[18]. National stockpiles for radiological and nuclear
emergencies: policy advice, ISBN 978-92-4-006787-5,
World Health Organization 2023.
[19]. Rosalba Gaudiuso , Marcella Dell’Aglio, Olga De
Pascale, Giorgio S. Senesi and Alessandro De
Giacomo, Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for
Elemental Analysis in Environmental, Cultural
Heritage and Space Applications: A Review of
Methods and Results, Sensors 2010, 10, 7434-7468;
doi:10.3390/s100807434.

Quantifying of Radioactive Elements in Soil, Water and Plant Samples Using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) Technique

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Quantifying of Radioactive Elements in Soil, Water and Plant Samples Using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) Technique

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Volume 9, Issue 4, April – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24APR105

Quantifying of Radioactive Elements in Soil,

M.A. Abdalrasool3 A.S. Hamid4

Mohmed Ibrahim Mohamed Omer 5

IJISRT24APR105 www.ijisrt.com 1149

Where νji is the frequency of the transition from state

As uranium exceeded the permissible safety limits, it

IJISRT24APR105 www.ijisrt.com 1150

IJISRT24APR105 www.ijisrt.com 1151

IJISRT24APR105 www.ijisrt.com 1152

3310 3531 2313

7.171 5.142 0.863

3920 4278 2476

2.615 7.303 1.329

3920 3549 3477 2846

2.616 5.168 7.168 2.884

IV. CONCLUSIONS [6]. David A. Cremers, Sebastien Mauchien, and Milos,

IJISRT24APR105 www.ijisrt.com 1153

IJISRT24APR105 www.ijisrt.com 1154

You might also like