Detection of Amosite of the Building Materials Wasted duirng Disater and Demolition by Staining Dyes

Abstract

The surface of the waste building material was stained with two different dyes. After staining, they were observed under a stereomicroscope (x50). When methylene blue (MB) erythrosine (RED-3) was added to the building material sequentially, the asbestos was colored from light blue to reddish purple or pink. Based on the coloration and shape, the material was determined to be chrysotile. Since some fibrous material was not stained, the surface of the building material was modified with a cationic polymer; drops of MB and RED-3 resulted in red staining. The colored material was confirmed to be amosite by XRD, EDX, and microscopic Raman spectra. The dye staining method was compared to XRD and official analytical methods. All samples in which asbestos was detected by the official analysis method were detected by the dye staining method. There were no false positives or false negatives. The staining method provided a clearer image than the official analysis method. Detection of asbestos in building materials by this method is simple, rapid, and sensitive. This method is suitable for testing for the presence of asbestos in building materials discarded at disaster or demolition sites, or even in buildings prior to demolition.