Industrial Online Raw Materials Analyzer Based on Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Abstract

From its inception, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been recognized as a prospective tool for online process control. Nevertheless, it took considerable time and effort to transform this potential opportunity into application in a working industrial system, such as the mining industry, under real-life conditions and a 24/7 operating mode. There were three main attributes of LIBS to prove: its advantage over other online techniques, mainly prompt gamma neutron activation analysis and X-ray fluorescence; its ability to give relevant data despite its surface but not volume analytical abilities; and its ability to be sufficiently accurate for online process control needs. Comparison of the quantitative results gained from industrial installations of an LIBS analyzer with results of conventional analytical methods and, most importantly, the substantial improvement of the technological process effectiveness proved that LIBS is in fact an excellent technique for online process control in the mining industry.

XRF online analyzer for measurements of P2O5 content in phosphate slurry

“…A rapid P analysis system installed on the production line (online analysis) could overcome some challenges and allow rapid control of slurry treatment processes. Online analysis leads to several challenges such as different shapes of samples, moving samples, the possibility of a single pulse on a sample, variable composition, wet samples, the effect of physical parameters of the slurry, a dusty atmosphere, as well as heat and humidity 7 . As a result of all these challenges, very few experiences have been reported in the literature about on-line characterization of phosphate slurry.…”

Industrial applications of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy: a review

“…[156][157][158][159][160][161][162] Ga et al 163 were among the rst to sense the potential of LIBS for on-line geological analysis. An industrial analyser was proposed in 2014; 164 the recent development of LIBS instrumentation for fast elemental imaging has opened the way for 3D elemental analysis of geological materials. [165][166][167] ELEMISSION, a Canadian rm, has developed a commercial instrument for geological analysis 168 which is able to obtain elemental LIBS images at kHz rate.…”

Monitoring of less-common residual elements in scrap feeds for EAF steelmaking

“…In recent, XRF hand-held analysers became more common for on-the-spot alloy identification in scrap yards [18]. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) uses a high-energy laser in the sample to emit a characteristic light, identifying the chemical composition of the sample [7,19,20]. The intensity of the light permits quantification [20].…”