Microwave-Assisted Digestion
Definition
Closed-vessel digestion in PTFE or quartz bombs at 1200 to 1800 W, reaching 200 degrees Celsius and 1500 psi in 30 to 60 minutes.
Related terms
- Acid Blank
- A parallel digestion of reagents in an empty vessel, subtracted from the sample to correct for trace metal contamination in the acids.
- Ashing Aid
- A salt (typically magnesium nitrate) added before dry ashing to fix volatile elements as less volatile salts that survive the furnace.
- Dry Ashing
- Viscera or hair is dried and incinerated in a muffle furnace at 450 to 550 degrees Celsius. Inorganic ash is dissolved in...
- Matrix Destruction
- Breakdown of organic tissue into water, CO2 and mineral residue so bound metals are released as free ions. Without it, AAS reads...
- Wet Digestion
- Viscera is digested with HNO3 + H2SO4 + HClO4 (or HNO3 + H2O2) at controlled temperature. Closed-vessel microwave-assisted digestion in Teflon bombs...
Explained in
- Dry Ashing and Wet Digestion for Metallic PoisonsClosed-vessel digestion in PTFE or quartz bombs at 1200 to 1800 W, reaching 200 degrees Celsius and 1500 psi in 30 to 60 minutes.