Georgia SME Section

Title:  A robust methodology to determine a total and a respirable crystalline silica (quartz, cristobalite, tridymite) profile that delineates crystalline silica content for labeling or non-labelling under Global Harmonization (GHS), OSHA/MSHA, and Reach. 

Abstract:  This talk will address in general a methodology to delineated total and respirable crystalline silica (quartz, cristobalite, tridymite) for minerals and material formulations containing natural and synthetic mineral additives or potential application formations. The robust methodology utilizes XRD prior to and after various selective dissolution(s) and high precision fractions to address the total and respirable components. In addition to the total crystalline silica levels, size fraction profiles can be determined at 15-micron, 10 micron, and 5 micron. The methodology addresses potential partial or full interference situations with crystalline silica and in most cases removal of an interference at the various fractions. The robust methodology can also account for minerals or material products having various combinations of hydrophilic-hydrophobic and inorganic-organic combinations thereof.  The use of method of additions is primarily employed while in some cases RIR (Reference Intensity Ratio) is done for quantification components using XRD. 

BIO:  Gary P. Tomaino has 42+ years in natural and synthetic minerals and materials characterizations with degrees in geology, chemistry, and biology, patents in synthetic silicates, publications, lecture awards and technical presentations in asbestos, crystalline silica, and mineral and material characterizations. Problem solving in all aspects of MTI business units including pure and applied R&D, Technical Service, Sales/Marketing, Technology Group, QA/QC, mine plan development, mineralogy and regulatory analyses for raw, in-process, and finished goods. 

Analytical expertise in: XRD, Thermal-XRD, and simultaneous Thermal Analysis (TGA-DTA, TGA-DSC), sample preparations/selective dissolutions/selective concentrations, sampling and sub-sampling, milling/grinding, and the utilization of data evaluations from PLM, SEM, FESEM or TEM analyses in the determination for asbestos.