The determination of quartz in respirable dust samples by infrared spectrophotometer

This paper summarises our experience with the i.r. method for the determination of quartz in respirable dust samples using the well-known potassium bromide technique. The experimental problems are discussed and the precision of the technique is assessed by calibration with standard <5 μm quartz. The i.r. method is compared with X-ray diffraction for the analysis of coalmine dusts and the two methods found to give analogous results. A micro-disc method is also described which has enabled microgram quantities of sample to be analysed. An alternative but less precise procedure is presented in Part II of this paper which enables quartz to be determined by direct i.r. analysis of dusts sampled on filters.