Morpho-chemical characterization and surface properties of carcinogenic zeolite fibers

Erionite belonging to the zeolite family is a human health-hazard, since it was demonstrated to be carcino-genic. Conversely, offretite family zeolites were suspected carcinogenic. Mineralogical, morphological,chemical, and surface characterizations were performed on two erionites (GF1, MD8) and one offretite(BV12) fibrous samples and, for comparison, one scolecite (SC1) sample. The specific surface area analysisindicated a larger availability of surface sites for the adsorption onto GF1, while SC1 shows the lowest oneand the presence of large pores in the poorly fibrous zeolite aggregates. Selected spin probes revealed ahigh adsorption capacity of GF1 compared to the other zeolites, but the polar/charged interacting siteswere well distributed, intercalated by less polar sites (Si–O–Si). MD8 surface is less homogeneous andthe polar/charged sites are more interacting and closer to each other compared to GF1. The interactingability of BV12 surface is much lower than that found for GF1 and MD8 and the probes are trapped insmall pores into the fibrous aggregates. In comparison with the other zeolites, the non-carcinogenic SC1shows a poor interacting ability and a lower surface polarity. These results helped to clarify the chem-ical properties and the surface interacting ability of these zeolite fibers which may be related to theircarcinogenicity.