Quantitative Determination of Airborne Respirable Non-Fibrous α-Silicon Carbide by X-ray Powder Diffractometry

摘要

Objectives: The purpose of the present investigation was to establish a method for the determi-nnation of airborne respirable non-fibrous silicon carbide (SiC). The main application is withinnthe industrial production of SiC.nMethods: Due to the complex airborne aerosol mixture of crystalline compounds in the SiCnindustry, X-ray powder diffractometry was selected as the most appropriate method. Withoutnany international standard material for the respirable fraction of non-fibrous SiC, pure andnsuitable products fromthree SiC plants in Norway were selected. These products have amediannparticle diameter in the range 4.4–5.1 mm. The method is based on thin sample technique, withnthe dust deposited on a polycarbonate filter. Absorption correction is done by standard proce-ndures with the use of a silver filter, situated below the polycarbonate filter.nResults: The diffraction line used for quantitative determination was selected carefully. Thisnwas done to avoid interferences from quartz, cristobalite, and graphite, which all are airbornencomponents present in the atmosphere during the industrial process. The instrumental limit ofndetection for the method is 12 mg.nConclusions: This method has been used to determine airborne non-fibrous SiC in a compre-nhensive ongoing project in the Norwegian SiC industry for further epidemiological studies. Thenmethod is fully applicable for compliance work.