IMPROVED METHOD AND PRODUCTS FOR TREATING ASBESTOS

摘要

A method for rendering harmless chrysotile asbestos comprises wetting the asbestos fibers with an aqueous solution containing about 1 to 25 % by weight of a weak organic acid, such as trifluoroacetic acid. Optionally, the aqueous solution further comprises about 1 to 10 % by weight of a source of fluoride ions, such as ammonium fluoride. The weak acid solution hydrolyzes the magnesium oxide units in asbestos while the fluoride ions attack the interleaved silica layers in the crystal structure of asbestos, thereby destroying the fibrous nature of the asbestos.