Micro X-ray fluorescence imaging coupled with chemometrics to detect and classify asbestos fibers in demolition waste
Asbestos was largely used in the past by several countries all over the world. From 1900 to 1990 asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were produced in large amounts for addressed to the production of insulation, flame retardant materials, as well as to improve mechanical and chemical characteristics of construction materials. The largest producer countries were Canada (chrysotile), South Africa (amosite, crocidolite), Russia (chrysotile), Finland (anthophyllite) and Italy (chrysotile). There are still some countries (e.g., Russia, China, Kazakhstan) where asbestos is mined and processed.