Detection of available heavy metals in soil using gold nanoparticles-modified ion exchange membrane with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

The available heavy metals in soil can directly threaten food security and human health. However, traditional detection methods are often complicated and time-consuming. In this study, a novel method with nanoparticlesmodified ion exchange membrane with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (NMIEM-LIBS) was proposed for the sensitive detection of available heavy metals in soil samples. Gold nanoparticles modified-ion exchange membrane was used to high-efficiency enrich lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) ions in soil solution and detected after separation. This method can realize the highly sensitive quantitative analysis of available Pb and Cd in soil, with the detection limits (LoDs) of 2.62 mg/kg and 0.24 mg/kg, respectively. Furthermore, the method was successfully applied to detect available Pb and Cd concentrations in three spiked soil samples, with recoveries of 87.02-115.79 % and 82.45-114.81 %, respectively. The developed method can provide a simple, rapid, and sensitive strategy for monitoring available heavy metals in environmental samples.