Evaluation of spark discharge assisted laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for total organic carbon determination in soils

• Grant number: 22/02304-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2022
• End date: October 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Edilene Cristina Ferreira
• Grantee: Edilene Cristina Ferreira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: Araraquara
• Associated researchers: Giorgio Saverio Senesi

Abstract

Global warming is drastically influenced by the carbon cycle in the soil. Thus, the mapping of the organic carbon content in agricultural soils helps to mitigate global climate change through the control and prevention of management that can provide the release of carbon stored in the soil. In this context, analytical methods for the determination of total organic carbon (TOC) are fundamental for generating carbon stock maps in the soil. Routine analytical methods for assessing TOC in the soil generally involve sample preparation or require chemical reagents for analysis. These methods are time-consuming, increase the cost by analysis, are susceptible to errors due to sample handling and generate chemical waste. Therefore, the lack of fast, accurate and environmentally friendly analytical methods for the determination of TOC on soil is still a gap for research. Spark Discharge assisted Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (SD-LIBS) is an attractive analytical technique to be applied to this demand because it meets all the mentioned requirements. Thus, this proposal aims to explore C2 and CN bands in SD-LIBS spectra to develop an analytical method capable of determining TOC in soil. SD-LIBS is expected to be a useful analytical tool that allows a rapid and direct analysis of TOC in the soil, and that can contribute significantly to the mitigation of global climate change. (AU)