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

Applied Sciences

Mario Tribaudino¹  Emma Salvioli-Mariani¹  Alessandro Cavallo²  Danilo Bersani³  Christine Laporte-Magoni⁴  Jasmine Rita Petriglieri⁵  Francesco Turci⁵ 

[1] Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 157/A, 43124 Parma, Italy;Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 4, 20126 Milano, Italy;Department of Mathematical, Physical and Computer Sciences, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 7/A, 43124 Parma, Italy;Institute of Pure and Applied Sciences, Université de la Nouvelle Calédonie, Campus de Nouville, BP R4, Nouméa 98851, New Caledonia;“G. Scansetti” Interdepartmental Centre for Studies on Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates, University of Torino, Via Pietro Giuria 7, 10125 Torino, Italy;

关键词: portable Raman;    micro-Raman;    asbestos;    fibrous antigorite;    balangeroite;    environmental monitoring;   

DOI  :  10.3390/app11010287

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

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.

【 授权许可】

Unknown