Trace Analysis of Asbestos in Rubber Products and Minerals

Abstract

Use of rubber products and minerals containing higher than 0.1wt% asbestos was banned in 2006. For the regulation, there is a real need for accurate trace analysis of asbestos in rubber products and minerals. We reviewed the present analytical methods for asbestos and make some recommendations to avoid erroneous measurement. Firstly, proper pretreatment of rubber products is essentially important to exact analysis. Secondary, it is necessary to combine two or more analysis techniques such as XRD, SEM, PCM and DTG for qualitative or quantitative analysis of asbestos. XRD is the most powerful instrument that can be used detection and measurement of asbestos. Asbestos can be directly observed with SEM and PCM. Though DTG is useful for identification of serpentine minerals, it is necessary to pretreat the matrix dissolution to measure the concentration of asbestos.