Rapid Detection of Heavy Metal Contents in Fruits by Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

To detect heavy metal contents in fruits rapidly, the Citrus Nanfeng tangerines pericarp and flesh have been analyzed by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy. Line emissions from five heavy metal elements, Pb, Cd, Hg,Cr and As, have been clearly extracted. Their intensities correspond to relative concentrations of these elements contained in the analyzed samples. The results demonstrated that the species and contents of heavy metal in fruits can be identified by their LIBS spectra, and the heavy metal contents in the inner of fruits are more than the outer. This analysis showed efficient discrimination between heavy metals from different parts of a single fruit by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy spectra.