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Avataneo C, Capella S, Luiso M, Marangoni G, Lasagna M, De Luca DA, Bergamini M, Belluso E, Turci F. Waterborne asbestos: Good practices for surface waters analyses. Front Chem 2023; 11:1104569. [PMID: 36762195 PMCID: PMC9905445 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1104569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Asbestos occurrence has been mainly monitored in air so far and only limitedly considered in other matrices, such as water. Waterborne asbestos could originate from natural or anthropogenic sources, leading to non-conventional exposure scenarios. It could be a secondary source of airborne asbestos in case of water-to-air migration, particularly in case of surface moving water, such as in rivers and streams. The scarce attention dedicated to waterborne asbestos has led to a considerable fragmentation in regulatory approaches regarding the study of water samples possibly contaminated by mineral fibres. In this context, this study has been designed to test the reliability of an existing analytical method devoted to natural waters investigations. Following the operational protocol issued by the Piedmont (Italy) Environmental Protection Agency, Scanning Electron Microscopy analyses have been performed on a standard sample of waterborne chrysotile, mimicking stream water. The investigations have been performed by different operators and using different analytical setups, to verify whether the method applied has a good interlaboratory reproducibility and which could be the most error-prone analytical steps. Three data sets have been obtained on the same sample, showing a low reproducibility among each other. Possible reasons causing this discrepancy have been discussed in detail and good practices to perform reliable analyses on surface water samples containing asbestos have been proposed to help the regulatory organs to better define analytical protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Avataneo
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy,“G. Scansetti” Interdepartmental Center for Studies on Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates, University of Turin, Turin, Italy,*Correspondence: Chiara Avataneo,
| | - Silvana Capella
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy,“G. Scansetti” Interdepartmental Center for Studies on Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Mariagrazia Luiso
- RSA Srl, Società per il Risanamento e lo Sviluppo Ambientale dell’ex miniera di amianto di Balangero e Corio, Balangero, TO, Italy
| | - Giuliana Marangoni
- RSA Srl, Società per il Risanamento e lo Sviluppo Ambientale dell’ex miniera di amianto di Balangero e Corio, Balangero, TO, Italy
| | - Manuela Lasagna
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Massimo Bergamini
- RSA Srl, Società per il Risanamento e lo Sviluppo Ambientale dell’ex miniera di amianto di Balangero e Corio, Balangero, TO, Italy
| | - Elena Belluso
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy,“G. Scansetti” Interdepartmental Center for Studies on Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates, University of Turin, Turin, Italy,Operational Unit of Turin, Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (IGG), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Turin, Italy
| | - Francesco Turci
- “G. Scansetti” Interdepartmental Center for Studies on Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates, University of Turin, Turin, Italy,Operational Unit of Turin, Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (IGG), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Turin, Italy,Department of Chemistry, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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Malinconico S, Paglietti F, Serranti S, Bonifazi G, Lonigro I. Asbestos in soil and water: A review of analytical techniques and methods. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 436:129083. [PMID: 35576665 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In this review the main standard and novel analytical techniques and methods for sampling, sample preparation, detection and quantification of asbestos in soil and water are described, compared and discussed in terms of advantages and limitations. An overview of common analytical methods applied for identification and quantification of airborne asbestos is preliminary provided, as they have been widely studied, due to the well-known human pathologies related to fibers inhalation. Despite the presence of asbestos in soil and water may also constitute a health risk, it has been less investigated and regulated. For these environmental matrices, the methods adopted at international and national scale, covering the whole analytical process, from sampling to management of data, are reported in depth, highlighting their limitations like sensitivity, reliability and reproducibility. Finally, different promising novel/unconventional methods, that may substitute or support traditional ones for asbestos detection both in environmental and anthropic matrices, are presented and critically evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Malinconico
- Department for Technological Innovations and Security Equipment, Products and Human Settlements (DIT), Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), via Roberto Ferruzzi 38/40, 00143 Rome, Italy.
| | - Federica Paglietti
- Department for Technological Innovations and Security Equipment, Products and Human Settlements (DIT), Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), via Roberto Ferruzzi 38/40, 00143 Rome, Italy.
| | - Silvia Serranti
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Materials & Environment, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Rome, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Bonifazi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Materials & Environment, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Rome, Italy.
| | - Ivano Lonigro
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Materials & Environment, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Rome, Italy.
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Hammond CB, Aghaaminiha M, Sharma S, Shen C, Chen H, Wu L. Mesoscale Aggregation of Sulfur-Rich Asphaltenes: In Situ Microscopy and Coarse-Grained Molecular Simulation. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:6896-6910. [PMID: 35594154 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Asphaltene aggregation is critical to many natural and industrial processes, from groundwater contamination and remediation to petroleum utilization. Despite extensive research in the past few decades, the fundamental process of sulfur-rich asphaltene aggregation still remains not fully understood. In this work, we have investigated the particle-by-particle growth of aggregates formed with sulfur-rich asphaltene by a combined approach of in situ microscopy and molecular simulation. The experimental results show that aggregates assembled from sulfur-rich asphaltene have morphologies with time-dependent structural self-similarity, and their growth rates are aligned with a crossover behavior between classic reaction-limited aggregation and diffusion-limited aggregation. Although the particle size distribution predicted using the Smoluchowski equation deviates from the observations at the initial stage, it provides a reasonable prediction of aggregate size distribution at the later stage, even if the observed cluster coalescence has an important effect on the corresponding cluster size distribution. The simulation results show that aliphatic sulfur exerts nonmonotonic effects on asphaltene nanoaggregate formation depending on the asphaltene molecular structure. Specifically, aliphatic sulfur has a profound effect on the structure of rod-like nanoaggregates, especially when asphaltene molecules have small aromatic cores. Interactions between aliphatic sulfur and the side chain of neighboring molecules account for the repulsive forces that largely explain the polydispersity in the nanoaggregates and corresponding colloidal aggregates. These results can improve our current understanding of the complex process of sulfur-rich asphaltene aggregation and sheds light on designing efficient crude oil utilization and remediation technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian B Hammond
- Department of Civil Engineering, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701, United States
| | - Mohammadreza Aghaaminiha
- Department of Civil Engineering, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701, United States
| | - Sumit Sharma
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701, United States
| | - Chongyang Shen
- Department of Soil and Water Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Agriculture, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71601, United States
| | - Lei Wu
- Department of Civil Engineering, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701, United States
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Precipitant Effects on Aggregates Structure of Asphaltene and Their Implications for Groundwater Remediation. WATER 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/w12082116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Asphaltenes generally aggregate, then precipitate and deposit on the surfaces of environmental media (soil, sediment, aquifer, and aquitard). Previous studies have recognized the importance of asphaltene aggregates on the wettability of aquifer systems, which has long been regarded as a limiting factor that determines the feasibility and remediation efficiency of sites contaminated by heavy oils. However, the mechanisms/factors associated with precipitant effects on asphaltene aggregates structure, and how the precipitant effects influence the wettability of surfaces remain largely unknown. Here, we observe the particle-by-particle growth of asphaltene aggregates formed at different precipitant concentrations. Our results show that aggregates for all precipitant concentrations are highly polydisperse with self-similar structures. A higher precipitant concentration leads to a more compacted aggregates structure, while precipitant concentration near to onset point results in a less compact structure. The well-known Smoluchowski model is inadequate to describe the structural evolutions of asphaltene aggregates, even for aggregation scenarios induced by a precipitant concentration at the onset point where the Smoluchowski model is expected to explain the aggregate size distribution. It is suggested that aggregates with relative high fractal dimensions observed at high precipitant concentrations can be used to explain the relatively low Stokes settling velocities observed for large asphaltene aggregates. In addition, asphaltene aggregates with high fractal dimensions are likely to have high density of nanoscale roughness which could enhance the hydrophobicity of interfaces when they deposit on the sand surface. Findings obtained from this study advance our current understandings on the fate and transport of heavy oil contaminants in the subsurface environment, which will have important implications for designing and implementing more effective and efficient remediation technologies for contaminated sites.
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Wallis SL, Emmett EA, Hardy R, Casper BB, Blanchon DJ, Testa JR, Menges CW, Gonneau C, Jerolmack DJ, Seiphoori A, Steinhorn G, Berry TA. Challenging Global Waste Management - Bioremediation to Detoxify Asbestos. FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 2020; 8:20. [PMID: 33269243 PMCID: PMC7707057 DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2020.00020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
As the 21st century uncovers ever-increasing volumes of asbestos and asbestos-contaminated waste, we need a new way to stop 'grandfather's problem' from becoming that of our future generations. The production of inexpensive, mechanically strong, heat resistant building materials containing asbestos has inevitably led to its use in many public and residential buildings globally. It is therefore not surprising that since the asbestos boom in the 1970s, some 30 years later, the true extent of this hidden danger was exposed. Yet, this severely toxic material continues to be produced and used in some countries, and in others the disposal options for historic uses - generally landfill - are at best unwieldy and at worst insecure. We illustrate the global scale of the asbestos problem via three case studies which describe various removal and/or end disposal issues. These case studies from both industrialised and island nations demonstrate the potential for the generation of massive amounts of asbestos contaminated soil. In each case, the final outcome of the project was influenced by factors such as cost and land availability, both increasing issues, worldwide. The reduction in the generation of asbestos containing materials will not absolve us from the necessity of handling and disposal of contaminated land. Waste treatment which relies on physico-chemical processes is expensive and does not contribute to a circular model economy ideal. Although asbestos is a mineral substance, there are naturally occurring biological-mediated processes capable of degradation (such as bioweathering). Therefore, low energy options, such as bioremediation, for the treatment for asbestos contaminated soils are worth exploring. We outline evidence pointing to the ability of microbe and plant communities to remove from asbestos the iron that contributes to its carcinogenicity. Finally, we describe the potential for a novel concept of creating ecosystems over asbestos landfills ('activated landfills') that utilize nature's chelating ability to degrade this toxic product effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon L. Wallis
- Engineering Pathway, Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Edward A. Emmett
- Perelman School of Medicine, Superfund Research Program, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Robyn Hardy
- Faculty of Arts and Design, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Brenda B. Casper
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Dan J. Blanchon
- School of Environmental and Animal Sciences, Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | | | - Cédric Gonneau
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Douglas J. Jerolmack
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ali Seiphoori
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Gregor Steinhorn
- Research and Enterprise, Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Terri-Ann Berry
- Engineering Pathway, Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
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Wu L, Ortiz CP, Jerolmack DJ. Aggregation of Elongated Colloids in Water. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2017; 33:622-629. [PMID: 27931099 PMCID: PMC5283798 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.6b03962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Colloidal aggregation is a canonical example of disordered growth far from equilibrium and has been extensively studied for the case of spherical monomers. Many particles encountered in industry and the environment are highly elongated; however, the control of particle shape on aggregation kinetics and structure is not well-known. Here, we explore this control in laboratory experiments that document aqueous diffusion and aggregation of two different elongated colloids: natural asbestos fibers and synthetic glass rods, with similar aspect ratios of about 5:1. We also perform control runs with glass spheres of similar size (∼1 μm). The aggregates assembled from the elongated particles are noncompact, with morphologies and growth rates that differ markedly from the classical aggregation dynamics observed for spherical monomers. The results for asbestos and glass rods are remarkably similar, demonstrating the primacy of shape over material properties-suggesting that our findings may be extended to other elongated colloids such as carbon nanotubes/fibers. This study may lead to enhanced prediction of the transport and fate of colloidal contaminants in the environment, which are strongly influenced by the growth and structure of aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wu
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science and ‡Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Carlos P Ortiz
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science and ‡Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Douglas J Jerolmack
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science and ‡Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
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Schürings MP, Nevskyi O, Eliasch K, Michel AK, Liu B, Pich A, Böker A, Von Plessen G, Wöll D. Diffusive Motion of Linear Microgel Assemblies in Solution. Polymers (Basel) 2016; 8:E413. [PMID: 30974691 PMCID: PMC6432013 DOI: 10.3390/polym8120413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Revised: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the ability of microgels to rapidly contract and expand in response to external stimuli, assemblies of interconnected microgels are promising for actuation applications, e.g., as contracting fibers for artificial muscles. Among the properties determining the suitability of microgel assemblies for actuation are mechanical parameters such as bending stiffness and mobility. Here, we study the properties of linear, one-dimensional chains of poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) microgels dispersed in water. They were fabricated by utilizing wrinkled surfaces as templates and UV-cross-linking the microgels. We image the shapes of the chains on surfaces and in solution using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and fluorescence microscopy, respectively. In solution, the chains are observed to execute translational and rotational diffusive motions. Evaluation of the motions yields translational and rotational diffusion coefficients and, from the translational diffusion coefficient, the chain mobility. The microgel chains show no perceptible bending, which yields a lower limit on their bending stiffness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco-Philipp Schürings
- DWI-Leibniz Institut für Interaktive Materialien e.V., Forckenbeckstr. 50, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
- Lehrstuhl für Makromolekulare Materialien und Oberflächen, Forckenbeckstr. 50, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Oleksii Nevskyi
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Kamill Eliasch
- Institute of Physics (1A), RWTH Aachen University, 52056 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Ann-Katrin Michel
- Institute of Physics (1A), RWTH Aachen University, 52056 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Bing Liu
- DWI-Leibniz Institut für Interaktive Materialien e.V., Forckenbeckstr. 50, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Andrij Pich
- DWI-Leibniz Institut für Interaktive Materialien e.V., Forckenbeckstr. 50, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
- Functional and Interactive Polymers, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstr. 50, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Alexander Böker
- DWI-Leibniz Institut für Interaktive Materialien e.V., Forckenbeckstr. 50, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
- Lehrstuhl für Makromolekulare Materialien und Oberflächen, Forckenbeckstr. 50, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
- Fraunhofer-Institut für Angewandte Polymerforschung (IAP), Lehrstuhl für Polymermaterialien und Polymertechnologie, Universität Potsdam, Geiselbergstraße 69, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany.
| | - Gero Von Plessen
- Institute of Physics (1A), RWTH Aachen University, 52056 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Dominik Wöll
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
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