Laser microprobe mass analysis (LAMMA) and adsorption study of aliphatic alkylammonium ions and alkylamines on asbestos fibre surfaces

Abstract

Abstract The adsorption–desorption behaviour of aliphatic alkylamines for asbestos was studied. A high affinity and strong adsorption characteristics, controlled by Van der Waals interaction and steric hindrance were obtained. For the R n NH 4−n Cl (1 ⩽ n ⩽ 4) doped asbestos fibres, the laser microprobe mass analysis (LAMMA) technique was used to analyse selectively the individual asbestos surface loadings. Only for quaternary (and tertiary at higher concentrations) ammonium products, could a semi‐quantitative picture of the organic asbestos surface covering be observed.