Identification heavy metal pollution in biological samples around cement plant in Aceh, Indonesia using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy ( LIBS)

Abstract

A study was conducted for identification of heavy metal pollution from biological sample as a potential proxy of environmental pollution due to industrial waste. The identification was conducted using the emerging analytical tool, namely laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The sample was collected from seawater near a cement plant in Aceh. Samples is a conch shell. The sample was dried in the open air and then prepared in the form of a pellet. The analysis was made by generating a plasma on the pellet sample using an Nd-YAG laser with a wavelength of 1,064 nm which is focused with a lens that has a focal length (f = 15 cm) by varying laser energy under low pressure of 3 Torr of air surrounding gas. Emission from the generated plasma was transmitted to the Maya2000 spectrometer optical detector using an optical fiber and then the emission spectrum of each element is displayed on the monitor. The results showed that the snail shell contained the salts and heavy metal elements K, Pb, Gd, Se, Mg, Rb, Fe, and Xe. Thus, it can be concluded that the heavy metal elements Pb and Fe can be detected LIBS technique from the biological sample.