Hand-Held Phytoremediation Monitor

75169-There is a need to monitor the efficiency of phytoremediation, in which green plants are used to extract and remove metals, radionuclides, and other contaminants from soil, subsurface sediments, or ground water. In particular, the concentration and partitioning of the contaminants in plant roots, shoots, stems, and leaves must be determined. This project will develop a hand-held Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) device, utilizing a microchip laser, to provide in situ analysis of phytoremediation sites. The handheld LIBS device will be designed and constructed in Phase I. Plants with known uptake of toxic metals will be analyzed in collaboration with researchers at the University of Florida. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: In addition to phytoremediation analysis, a handheld metals analysis tool should have application in alloy analysis, toxic industrial chemical monitoring, toxic waste monitoring, and the Federal monitoring of trans-uranic elements.