Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of chrysotile and crocidolite fibres with infrared spectrophotometry: application to asbestos-cement products.

Infrared (IR) spectrophotometry allows simple and rapid qualitative and quantitative evaluations of different types of asbestos, as well as of other inorganic particles. In particular, chrysotile and crocidolite have characteristic IR spectra, and optical density measurements in the 2710 nm band for chrysotile and the 12820 nm band for crocidolite permit the quantitative evaluation of each fibre either alone or in mixtures. IR spectra also provide information on changes in fibre structure and in chemical composition as the result, for example, of thermal treatment or acid leaching. The analytical method that we have developed can detect amounts as small as 0.1 mg of fibre in a 300-mg disk of potassium bromide using a low-cost IR spectrophotometer. The use of a Fourier transform IR spectrophotometer dramatically improves the sensitivity and selectivity. Computer-assisted analysis of spectra offers the possibility of reducing matrix interference and of comparing different spectra. The application of the IR technique to asbestos-cement products and insulating materials is described.