Evaluation of a fluidized bed asbestos segregator preparation method for the analysis of low-levels of asbestos in soil and other solid media

The fluidized bed asbestos segregator (FBAS) is a sample preparation instrument that utilizes air elutriation to separate asbestos structures from heavier matrix particles and deposit these structures onto a filter which can then be analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) or other appropriate microscopic techniques. The performance of the FBAS preparation method was evaluated using a variety of performance evaluation (PE) standards that spanned different matrix materials (soil and vermiculite) and different types of asbestos (chrysotile and amphibole). Results for these PE standards show that there is an approximately linear relationship between the concentration of asbestos in the PE standard (as mass percent) and the mean concentration estimated by the TEM analysis following preparation by FBAS, expressed as asbestos structures captured on the filter per gram of test material (s g(-1)). Method detection limits achieved in these studies ranged from 0.002% to 0.005% by weight, which is approximately 100-times lower than the detection limits that are usually achieved using other analytical methods for asbestos in soil and other solid media. The FBAS unit is compact, fitting into a standard laboratory fume hood, and components of the unit are relatively easy to decontaminate or are disposable. The FBAS unit construction and operation costs are relatively low and sample throughput is high (up to 20 samples per day). Current research using the FBAS unit is ongoing and an inter-laboratory validation study is in progress.