Unveiling the Elemental Composition and Categorization of Sikkim Hot-Spring Water with Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and Advanced Analytical Techniques

Abstract

The research investigates the elemental composition of hot-spring water in Sikkim, specifically in Yumthang, Tarum, and Reshi, using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. This technique involves exciting the sample with a high-energy laser pulse, causing it to emit light that can be analyzed to determine its elemental composition. The results of the study indicate that the hot-spring water in Sikkim is of meteoric origin, meaning it originated from precipitation. To understand the abundance of elements in the hot-spring water samples, the Sulphur/Nitrogen, Chlorine/Nitrogen, and Sulphur/Chlorine ratios were calculated using the ratiometric method. These ratios were then used to classify the samples using univariate and multivariate statistical tools. The box plot was used for the univariate analysis, while the bivariate normal distribution method was used for the multivariate analysis. We have also discussed the limitations of overlapping emission peaks on the classification of the samples. The study found that the abundance of nitrogen in the samples played a significant role in their classification. Principal component analysis was also employed to classify the samples. This technique involves identifying the most significant variables contributing to the variation in the data and using them to classify the samples. Overall, the study provides important insights into the elemental composition of hot-spring water in Sikkim and highlights the usefulness of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy in analyzing such samples.