Determination of trace metals using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy in insoluble organic materials obtained from pyrolysis of plastics waste.

Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was applied for the detection of trace elements in non-degradable part of plastics known as insoluble organic material, obtained from thermal and catalytic degradation of plastics. LIBS signal intensity for each metal measured in the test sample was unique and different. The capability of this technique is demonstrated by analyzing various trace metals present inside plastics and also compared with ICP results. The metal concentration (ppm) measured with LIBS and verified by ICP for Ag (901), Al (522), Fe (231), Co (628), V (275), Ni (558), Pb (325), Mn (167) and Cd (378) are higher than permissible safe limits.