Plasma Source Cavity Ringdown Spectroscopy for Environmental Applications: Detections of Elemental Mercury and its Stable Isotopes

Summary form only given. Plasma source cavity ringdown spectroscopy (P-CRDS) is a new spectral technique, in which the plasma source works as an atomization/ionization source and the CRDS serves as a sensitive optical detector. The P-CRDS, since its introduction for atomic and analytical measurements in 1997, has been demonstrated for elemental and isotopic measurements in environmental applications. Several elements, including lead (Pb), Uranium (U), Mercury (Hg), Strontium (Sr), U-235, and Hg isotopes, have been measured by the P-CRDS system based on different instrument configurations. With advancement of compact plasma sources and laser sources, the P-CRDS technique may be used to develop a field-portable ringdown spectrometer for elemental and isotopic monitoring in diverse environmental applications. In this talk, we will present recent progresses on measurements of elemental mercury and its stable isotopic components using the P-CRDS with two different compact plasma sources (MIP and Tube-shaped MIP). Future developments towards a portable P-CRDS-based mercury spectrometer are discussed.