Separation of short fibers from bulk chrysotile asbestos fiber materials: analysis and physico-chemical characterization.

Abstract

The aqueous sedimentation behavior of commercial chrysotile asbestos fibers has been investigated and a simple method for separating short fibers (90% < 2 μm) could be devised based on selective sedimentation. Chemical, X-ray structural, and differential thermal analyses show that the short fibers have chrysotile composition and structure, with lower brucite (Mg(OH)2) and iron contents than the bulk fibers. The length distribution of these short fibers exhibits a maximum at 0.3 μm and a width-at-half-height of ∼0.5 μm. Surface adsorption studies yield specific areas of 20 and 28 m2/g for N2 and H2O respectively. Because of their finely divided state and narrow length distribution, such fibers should be well suited for a variety of physico-chemical, chemical, and biological investigations on chrysotile fibers.