Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for Monitoring Carbon Sequestration

Verification is a key part of any technology that is designed to capture and contain carbon dioxide as a way to prevent climate change related to the combustion of fossil fuels.  The measurement of carbon in soils and sub-soils is an important component of this verification.  Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) appears to have the capability for measuring carbon in the soil with the requisite sensitivity and without extensive sample preparation.  Therefore, the purpose of this project is to make LIBS technology more affordable, more portable, and more reliable, so that it becomes practical for field measurements.  Phase I will: (1) substitute a lower cost, optimized detection system for the expensive, gated array detector now used; (2) improve light collection efficiency; and (3) determine the optimum wavelength and time properties of the emission signals due to carbon. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee:  The advanced measurement method should lead to improved land use and carbon emissions management, leading to the mitigation of the anthropogenic effects of burning fossil fuels.  Other applications of the soil measurement technology include the potential to significantly increase the security of food supplies in areas where food production is currently tenuous, and to improve the quality of life of people living in areas affected by land degradation from mining, abusive grazing, and over-production of lumber.