Shooting slurries: sampling is the name of the game

摘要

The sampling question is a key issue to sound LIBS measurements. Analyzing slurries (as well as suspensions, solutions and liquids in a general sense) with LIBS may suffer dramatic sampling inconsistencies. Thoughtful design of the slurry recirculator at the laboratory scale has enabled to increase sensitivity and signal stability significantly. The new sampler has been used to circulate high density iron ore slurries (which tend to sediment), low density graphite slurries (which tend to float) and iodine solutions successfully. Investigations are now oriented to studying the effect of %water in slurries and up-scaling the apparatus to industrial needs.