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Soil Sensing With a Handheld LIBS: Effect of Sample Preparation and Instrument Precision.

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Title: Soil Sensing With a Handheld LIBS: Effect of Sample Preparation and Instrument Precision.
Authors: Hu, Yang1 (AUTHOR) yang.hu@curtin.edu.au, Cross, Adam2,3 (AUTHOR), Shen, Zefang1 (AUTHOR), Viscarra Rossel, Raphael A.1 (AUTHOR)
Source: European Journal of Soil Science. Mar2026, Vol. 77 Issue 2, p1-18. 18p.
Subjects: Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, Pelletizing, Size reduction of materials, Soil quality, Potassium bromide, Statistical accuracy, Chemical sample preparation, Soil science
Abstract: Rapid and scalable methods for characterising soil elements are needed to understand soil conditions. Handheld Laser‐Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) enables simultaneous multi‐element analysis, but it requires sample preparation by grinding and pelleting, which is challenging for sandy soils due to their poor cohesion. Here, we investigated the effects of grinding time and binder addition on pellet integrity, LIBS spectra and measurement precision. We prepared soils with varying sand contents (10%–90%) and assessed pelleting consistency after grinding for 3, 5, 7, or 15 min. To improve cohesion, we remixed with 20% potassium bromide (KBr) as a binder. Sandier samples and shorter grinding times produced less cohesive pellets and more variable measurements. Longer grinding and KBr addition improved pellet cohesion and reduced measurement variability. However, KBr had element‐dependent effects on the relationship between spectra and element concentrations. We evaluated the precision of handheld LIBS by quantifying repeatability (shot‐to‐shot) and between‐day reproducibility. Shot‐to‐shot relative standard deviation (RSD) often exceeded 10%, but averaging multiple shots improved precision, reducing variability to less than 10% RSD. Noticeable between‐day variability was observed, influenced by both instrument and sample properties. These findings provide a foundation for guidelines on sample preparation for handheld LIBS soil analysis. Although substantial sample preparation is required, handheld LIBS offers simultaneous analysis of all elements present in the soil sample. With appropriate preparation, LIBS can improve analytical reliability and cost‐effectiveness for soil assessments, supporting applications in soil health assessments, environmental remediation and soil monitoring. Highlights: Grinding improved soil sample homogeneity and cohesion, reduced LIBS measurement variability.Grinding and KBr addition enhanced pellet cohesion, signal strength and measurement repeatability.Addressed limited knowledge of sample preparation and soil texture effect on LIBS spectral quality.Provide basis for guiding sample preparation for handheld LIBS for rapid, cost‐effective soil analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of European Journal of Soil Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
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DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 193321553
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PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
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Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Soil Sensing With a Handheld LIBS: Effect of Sample Preparation and Instrument Precision.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hu%2C+Yang%22">Hu, Yang</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> yang.hu@curtin.edu.au</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cross%2C+Adam%22">Cross, Adam</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shen%2C+Zefang%22">Shen, Zefang</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Viscarra+Rossel%2C+Raphael+A%2E%22">Viscarra Rossel, Raphael A.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22European+Journal+of+Soil+Science%22">European Journal of Soil Science</searchLink>. Mar2026, Vol. 77 Issue 2, p1-18. 18p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Laser-induced+breakdown+spectroscopy%22">Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pelletizing%22">Pelletizing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Size+reduction+of+materials%22">Size reduction of materials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Soil+quality%22">Soil quality</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Potassium+bromide%22">Potassium bromide</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Statistical+accuracy%22">Statistical accuracy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Chemical+sample+preparation%22">Chemical sample preparation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Soil+science%22">Soil science</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Rapid and scalable methods for characterising soil elements are needed to understand soil conditions. Handheld Laser‐Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) enables simultaneous multi‐element analysis, but it requires sample preparation by grinding and pelleting, which is challenging for sandy soils due to their poor cohesion. Here, we investigated the effects of grinding time and binder addition on pellet integrity, LIBS spectra and measurement precision. We prepared soils with varying sand contents (10%–90%) and assessed pelleting consistency after grinding for 3, 5, 7, or 15 min. To improve cohesion, we remixed with 20% potassium bromide (KBr) as a binder. Sandier samples and shorter grinding times produced less cohesive pellets and more variable measurements. Longer grinding and KBr addition improved pellet cohesion and reduced measurement variability. However, KBr had element‐dependent effects on the relationship between spectra and element concentrations. We evaluated the precision of handheld LIBS by quantifying repeatability (shot‐to‐shot) and between‐day reproducibility. Shot‐to‐shot relative standard deviation (RSD) often exceeded 10%, but averaging multiple shots improved precision, reducing variability to less than 10% RSD. Noticeable between‐day variability was observed, influenced by both instrument and sample properties. These findings provide a foundation for guidelines on sample preparation for handheld LIBS soil analysis. Although substantial sample preparation is required, handheld LIBS offers simultaneous analysis of all elements present in the soil sample. With appropriate preparation, LIBS can improve analytical reliability and cost‐effectiveness for soil assessments, supporting applications in soil health assessments, environmental remediation and soil monitoring. Highlights: Grinding improved soil sample homogeneity and cohesion, reduced LIBS measurement variability.Grinding and KBr addition enhanced pellet cohesion, signal strength and measurement repeatability.Addressed limited knowledge of sample preparation and soil texture effect on LIBS spectral quality.Provide basis for guiding sample preparation for handheld LIBS for rapid, cost‐effective soil analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of European Journal of Soil Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1111/ejss.70305
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 18
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pelletizing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Size reduction of materials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Soil quality
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Potassium bromide
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Statistical accuracy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Chemical sample preparation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Soil science
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Soil Sensing With a Handheld LIBS: Effect of Sample Preparation and Instrument Precision.
        Type: main
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          Name:
            NameFull: Hu, Yang
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            NameFull: Cross, Adam
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            NameFull: Shen, Zefang
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            NameFull: Viscarra Rossel, Raphael A.
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            – D: 01
              M: 03
              Text: Mar2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 77
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              Value: 2
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: European Journal of Soil Science
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