SEDL / STP / STP1342-EB / STP42343S

Sludge, Crud and Fish Guts: Creative Approaches to the Analysis of Non-Standard Water Samples for Asbestos

Bailey, R. Mark
President and Laboratory Director, Asbestos TEM Laboratories, Inc., Berkeley, CA

Hu, Meisheng
Senior Electron Microscopist, Asbestos TEM Laboratories, Inc., Berkeley, CA

Pages: 7    Published: Jan 1999

Download this paper for $25 PDF (108K)          View License Agreement
Abstract

The analysis of asbestos in non-standard water samples (i.e. surface water, waste water, liquid toxic waste, fish entrails & others) by transmission electron microscopy is an on-going challenge. Samples are highly variable, and commonly containing multiple interfering components. The choice of sample preparation technique is critical in order to obtain meaningful results. Techniques discussed include UV/ozonation, dissolution, dilution, ashing and solvent washing. A variety of case histories are presented, and the approaches taken discussed.