Speciation analysis using lasers

Lasers in speciation analysis are used mainly as excitation source for spectroscopic methods.
Laser-induced methods as Laser-induced photoacoustic spectroscopy (LIPAS), Laser-induced thermal lensing spectroscopy (TLS) and laser-induced fluorescence (luminescence) spectroscopy (LIF) as well as the laser-induced time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLIF) are common methods for elemental speciation analysis.
The main advantages of these methods are:
Non-invasive methods
Non-destructive
Low detection limits
Especially the last advantage has great importance in actinide chemistry, due to the radioactivity of these elements.
TLS has no great importance in speciation analysis due to the use of an additional probe laser, which has to be aligned with the pump laser beam.
Due to the destruction of species laser ablation combined with spectroscopic methods will not considered in this chapter
The chapter will review the application of both methods (LIPAS and TRLFS) to determine the elemental speciation mainly of lanthanides and actinides in solution. Examples for speciation analysis in solids will be given, here namely focussed to the assignment of some uranium minerals. In the chapter excitation wavelength (spectra) as well as the emission properties will be reviewed.
Additionally shortly the application of TRLFS to determine organic species will be taken into consideration. However, due to the numerous organic species only a short introduction with few examples can be given.