Calibration-free picosecond LIPS for quantifying heavy metals in soils near Egyptian industrial sites

Abstract

Abstract Excessive fertilizer and chemical usage have led to soil contamination by toxic heavy metals near the Abu-Zaabal industrial complex in Egypt. We introduce a groundbreaking calibration-free methodology using ultrafast Picosecond Laser-Induced Plasma Spectroscopy (CF-Ps-LIPS) for quantifying contaminant elements (Cd, Zn, Fe, Ni) in soils near Egypt’s Abu-Zaabal industrial complex. This study pioneers applying 170 ps laser pulses (Nd: YAG, 1064 nm) to achieve calibration-free analysis, eliminating matrix-matched standards and offering ± 1% agreement with ICP-OES. By integrating plasma diagnostics (electron density Ne = 1.2–1.5 × 1017 cm− 3 and temperature Te = 8508–10,275 K), we establish CF-Ps-LIPS as a rapid, minimally invasive tool for on-site environmental monitoring, validated through spatial contamination gradients linked to wind patterns. Concentrations of Cd (25.1–136.5 mg/kg), Zn (19.8–146.9 mg/kg), Fe (59.7–62 mg/kg), and Ni (119.4–157.8 mg/kg) were analyzed across seven sampling sites. The seventh site was used as a test sample of unknown concentration to validate CF-Ps-LIPS. Utilizing the Boltzmann distribution with plotting techniques enables precise plasma electron density and temperature determination under local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) conditions. The CF-Ps-LIPS study revealed significant concentration variations dependent on trace metal type, sampling location, and facility orientation. The CF-Ps-LIPS method provides calibration-free, rapid, and accurate detection of metal contaminants in Egyptian soils for the first time. This methodology significantly advances environmental monitoring and soil contamination analysis, allowing on-site assessments with higher efficiency and reliability.