Detection of Contaminants in Petroleum Sources using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

This SBIR Phase I proposal describes the feasibility of using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for detecting contaminants in petroleum sources. Applied Spectra believes that LIBS using a broadband spectrometer/ICCD system can be a compelling platform for developing highly portable, rugged, and robust detection system. This Phase I project will emphasize the identification of relevant broadband LIBS signatures for different petroleum products of interest to the Army and the ability of LIBS to analyze foreign and naturally occurring contaminants in the fuel. LIBS has been a strong candidate for numerous applications in security, force protection, and detection of hazardous materials, as emphasized by the Army Research Laboratory.