Multi-Analytical Approach for Identifying Asbestos Minerals In Situ

Bloise, Andrea; Miriello, Domenico

doi:10.3390/geosciences8040133

Cited by 19 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…However, when the elongated particles are very thin, even with TEM it may not be possible to adequately differentiate asbestiform fibers from prismatic crystals or cleavage fragments. Moreover, in recent years other analytical techniques (e.g., µ-Raman, thermal analysis) have been able to better discriminate and quantify the asbestos mineral occurrence in rocks [19][20][21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-Analytical Approach for Asbestos Minerals and Their Non-Asbestiform Analogues: Inferences from Host Rock Textural Constraints

Militello

Bloise

Gaggero

et al. 2019

Fibers

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Asbestos is a hazardous mineral, as well as a common and well-known issue worldwide. However, amphiboles equal in composition but not in morphology, as well as the fibrous antigorite and lizardite, are not classified as asbestos even if more common than other forms of the mineral. Still, their potential hazardous properties requires further exploration. The proposed multi-instrumental approach focuses on the influence of textural constraints on the subsequent origin of asbestiform products in massive rock. This aspect has a significant effect on diagnostic policies addressing environmental monitoring and the clinical perspective. Concerning minerals that are chemically and geometrically (length > 5 μm, width < 3 μm and length:diameter > 3:1) but not morphologically analogous to regulated asbestos, the debate about their potential hazardous properties is open and ongoing. Therefore, a selection of various lithotypes featuring the challenging identification of fibrous phases with critical counting dimensions was investigated; this selection consisted of two serpentinites, one metabasalt and one pyroxenite. The analytical protocol included optical microscopy (OM), scanning and transmission electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM/EDS; TEM/EDS), micro-Raman spectroscopy and synchrotron radiation X-ray microtomography (SR X-ray μCT). The latter is an original non-destructive approach that allows the observation of the fiber arrangement in a three-dimensional space, avoiding morphological influence as a result of comminution.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-Analytical Approach for Asbestos Minerals and Their Non-Asbestiform Analogues: Inferences from Host Rock Textural Constraints

Militello

Bloise

Gaggero

et al. 2019

Fibers

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“…However, delicate optics, hazardous high-power laser sources, and a heavy anti-vibration table and electronics characterize benchtop setups. To take advantage of the highly diagnostic power of Raman spectroscopy during in situ surveys, portable instruments were tested in the identification of asbestos and asbestoslike minerals at the outcrop [36,39]. However, a work devoted to comparatively test the performance of portable Raman spectroscopy (pRS) under different environmental and geological conditions is still lacking.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Portable Raman Spectrometer for In Situ Analysis of Asbestos and Fibrous Minerals

et al. 2020

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Asbestos inhalation is associated with fatal respiratory diseases and raises concerns from the perspective of workplace safety and environmental impacts. Asbestos and asbestos-like minerals naturally occur in rocks and may become airborne when outcrops or soils are disturbed by anthropic activities. In situ detection of these minerals is a crucial step for the risk evaluation of natural sites. We assess here whether a portable Raman spectrometer (pRS) may be used in the identification of asbestos and asbestos-like minerals at the mining front during exploitation. pRS performance was tested at three geologically different mining sites in Italy and New Caledonia and compared with a high-resolution micro-Raman spectrometer (HRS). About 80% of the overall in situ analyses at the mining front were successfully identified by pRS, even when intermixed phases or strongly disaggregated and altered samples were analyzed. Chrysotile and tremolite asbestos, asbestos-like antigorite, and balangeroite were correctly detected during surveys. The major difficulties faced during in situ pRS measurements were fluorescence emission and focussing the laser beam on non-cohesive bundles of fibers. pRS is adequate for discriminating asbestos and asbestos-like minerals in situ. pRS may support risk assessment of mining sites to better protect workers and environment.

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“…As a result, asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), used for fireproofing, insulation, construction, and friction, have been banned in 52 countries, including the United States and the European Union [18]. Multiple techniques (X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy) Minerals 2020, 10, 568 2 of 10 have been applied to detect and characterize the microparticles and nanoparticles of asbestos [7,[19][20][21][22][23]. Until recently, the most common methods used have been electron microscopy and XRPD [24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative Analysis of Asbestos-Containing Materials Using Various Test Methods

2020

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The advantages of X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) analysis are its non-destructive nature, reliability, fast and easy sample preparation, and low costs. XRPD analysis has been used for mineral identification and the quantitative/qualitative determination of various types of fibrous minerals in asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). In order to test the detection limit of ACMs by XRPDD, standard samples with various concentrations of ACMs (0.1%, 1%, and 3%) were fabricated using three matrix materials (talc, vermiculite, and sepiolite). Asbestiform tremolite and chrysotile were identified in the XRPD profiles of the samples with 1% and 3% ACMs. Their integral intensities were positively correlated with the concentrations. However, the XRPD peak of asbestos was not found in the samples with 0.1% ACMs. Therefore, scanning and transmission electron microscopy were utilized to investigate the samples with a very low concentration of ACMs. Although the ACM concentration (0.1%) was negligible and its direct observation was time-consuming, electron microscopy allowed for the detection of asbestos in several matrix materials. Thus, a combination of XRPD and electron microscopy improve analytical performance and data reliability.

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Multi-Analytical Approach for Identifying Asbestos Minerals In Situ

Cited by 19 publications

References 58 publications

Multi-Analytical Approach for Asbestos Minerals and Their Non-Asbestiform Analogues: Inferences from Host Rock Textural Constraints

Multi-Analytical Approach for Asbestos Minerals and Their Non-Asbestiform Analogues: Inferences from Host Rock Textural Constraints

Portable Raman Spectrometer for In Situ Analysis of Asbestos and Fibrous Minerals

Quantitative Analysis of Asbestos-Containing Materials Using Various Test Methods

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