Assessing the Sensitivity and Efficiency of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for High-Concentration Cadmium Detection in Cocoa Powder
Cocoa is a major commodity in the global food industry. Heavy metal contamination, particularly cadmium (Cd), raises significant concerns. This work demonstrates the use of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for fast Cd quantification in commercial cocoa powder across a wide range of concen...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| author | Juan Molina M. Raquel Pincay Víctor Santos José Luis González María Fernanda Trujillo Guerrero Diego Díaz Pace César Costa-Vera |
| author_facet | Juan Molina M. Raquel Pincay Víctor Santos José Luis González María Fernanda Trujillo Guerrero Diego Díaz Pace César Costa-Vera |
| author_sort | Juan Molina M. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cocoa is a major commodity in the global food industry. Heavy metal contamination, particularly cadmium (Cd), raises significant concerns. This work demonstrates the use of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for fast Cd quantification in commercial cocoa powder across a wide range of concentrations (70–5000 ppm). Cocoa powder presents unique challenges due to its physical properties, such as the tendency to soften and liquefy at elevated temperatures, which complicates sample preparation. To address these issues, a mechanical mixing and pelletization protocol was implemented to ensure uniformity. Pellets were doped with known cadmium concentrations for calibration. Cadmium atomic lines at 340.36 and 361.05 nm were used to construct quantification curves. A special algorithm for background subtraction was implemented, and the LIBS plasma was characterized to ensure local thermodynamic equilibrium conditions. Out of eighteen samples, five double-blinded unknowns were evaluated. The concentrations agreed well within normalized standard deviations of 9.73% and 5.88% for the two cadmium lines. The limits of detection for the lines were 0.4 and 0.08 μg/g, respectively. LIBS is confirmed as a rapid and versatile analytical tool for Cd detection and quantification in complex food matrices, with potential applications in field-based and industrial monitoring systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ea9f8ca9b1464b12aa9fcb950d1740a2 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-ea9f8ca9b1464b12aa9fcb950d1740a22025-08-20T03:13:53ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-04-01258243410.3390/s25082434Assessing the Sensitivity and Efficiency of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for High-Concentration Cadmium Detection in Cocoa PowderJuan Molina M.0Raquel Pincay1Víctor Santos2José Luis González3María Fernanda Trujillo Guerrero4Diego Díaz Pace5César Costa-Vera6Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Calle Godoy Cruz 2290, Buenos Aires 1425, ArgentinaMass Spectrometry & Optical Spectroscopy Group, Departamento de Física, Escuela Politécnica Nacional (EPN), Ladrón de Guevara E11–253, Ed. #6, Piso 1, Quito 170525, EcuadorDepartamento de Automatización y Control Industrial, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Ladrón de Guevara E11-253, Quito 170525, EcuadorMass Spectrometry & Optical Spectroscopy Group, Departamento de Física, Escuela Politécnica Nacional (EPN), Ladrón de Guevara E11–253, Ed. #6, Piso 1, Quito 170525, EcuadorDepartamento de Automatización y Control Industrial, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Ladrón de Guevara E11-253, Quito 170525, EcuadorConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Calle Godoy Cruz 2290, Buenos Aires 1425, ArgentinaMass Spectrometry & Optical Spectroscopy Group, Departamento de Física, Escuela Politécnica Nacional (EPN), Ladrón de Guevara E11–253, Ed. #6, Piso 1, Quito 170525, EcuadorCocoa is a major commodity in the global food industry. Heavy metal contamination, particularly cadmium (Cd), raises significant concerns. This work demonstrates the use of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for fast Cd quantification in commercial cocoa powder across a wide range of concentrations (70–5000 ppm). Cocoa powder presents unique challenges due to its physical properties, such as the tendency to soften and liquefy at elevated temperatures, which complicates sample preparation. To address these issues, a mechanical mixing and pelletization protocol was implemented to ensure uniformity. Pellets were doped with known cadmium concentrations for calibration. Cadmium atomic lines at 340.36 and 361.05 nm were used to construct quantification curves. A special algorithm for background subtraction was implemented, and the LIBS plasma was characterized to ensure local thermodynamic equilibrium conditions. Out of eighteen samples, five double-blinded unknowns were evaluated. The concentrations agreed well within normalized standard deviations of 9.73% and 5.88% for the two cadmium lines. The limits of detection for the lines were 0.4 and 0.08 μg/g, respectively. LIBS is confirmed as a rapid and versatile analytical tool for Cd detection and quantification in complex food matrices, with potential applications in field-based and industrial monitoring systems.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/8/2434laser-induced breakdown spectroscopyLIBScadmiumcocoa |
| spellingShingle | Juan Molina M. Raquel Pincay Víctor Santos José Luis González María Fernanda Trujillo Guerrero Diego Díaz Pace César Costa-Vera Assessing the Sensitivity and Efficiency of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for High-Concentration Cadmium Detection in Cocoa Powder Sensors laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy LIBS cadmium cocoa |
| title | Assessing the Sensitivity and Efficiency of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for High-Concentration Cadmium Detection in Cocoa Powder |
| title_full | Assessing the Sensitivity and Efficiency of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for High-Concentration Cadmium Detection in Cocoa Powder |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the Sensitivity and Efficiency of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for High-Concentration Cadmium Detection in Cocoa Powder |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the Sensitivity and Efficiency of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for High-Concentration Cadmium Detection in Cocoa Powder |
| title_short | Assessing the Sensitivity and Efficiency of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for High-Concentration Cadmium Detection in Cocoa Powder |
| title_sort | assessing the sensitivity and efficiency of laser induced breakdown spectroscopy libs for high concentration cadmium detection in cocoa powder |
| topic | laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy LIBS cadmium cocoa |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/8/2434 |
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