Determination of phosphorus in water using iron hydroxide assisted laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) is an important indicator for evaluating eutrophication in water bodies. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), as a total elemental analysis technique, is widely used in various fields. This work proposes a new application for this technique based on the adsorption of P using iron hydroxide. Using this method, a calibration curve with an R² of 0.996 was obtained along with an optimal limit of detection (LoD) of P in water of 0.1 mg L⁻¹. The analysis of spiked river and pond water samples showed P recoveries ranging from 94% to 113%. This adsorption-based analytical method of P allows the highly accurate assessment of actual water samples and could have practical applications.