Abstract

Analysis of geological and environmental materials is the current and growing requirement in the recent years. Laser-induced
breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a spectroscopic technique based on atomic emission and has been used as an analysis tool of
minerals, rocks, soils, sediments, etc. LIBS has the advantage of faster analysis than other techniques with a typical detection
limits of elements. Applications of LIBS have been growing rapidly and continue to be extended to a broad range of materials.
The paper presents the applications of LIBS exclusively for the analysis of environmental materials. However, before discussing
the reviews on LIBS applications on environmental monitoring; a brief overview of the fundamental of the LIBS analytical
technique, double-pulse and femtosecond LIBS methods, its instrumentation, sampling techniques and analysis of minerals,
rocks, soils, sediments, and other natural materials are presented. LIBS technology is the increasing requirement for the quality
control in the environment due to the various pollutants. The review focuses on the most relevant advances and is reported in
different sections relative to the analyzed objects.