2.4. Physico-chemical characterisation
Diatomised fibres were chemically characterised by Fourier
transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) in their dry state using
a Horizon MB3000 in ATR mode, and by energy dispersive X-ray
spectroscopy (EDS) in a vacuum. Physical characteristics (diatoms
sizes) were characterised using optical microscopy methods. One
hundred diatoms were measured from each genus.