The digestion of samples is carried out through standard procedures for the preparation, by heating them, in transparent airtight containers, together with the necessary acids for the studies. Microwave digestion equipment is used, where usual parameters are applied, such as temperature, which varies between 220-240ºC, depending on the sample required to be subjected to heat, generating partial or complete degradation of the sample.
In this way, it is also required reagents, being the most used nitric acid, hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide, causing digestion, the acid aqueous solution of the sample is obtained, which can be further analyzed with spectroscopic techniques.
Digestion Processes of a Sample
Digestion of samples is a standard way in analytical chemistry, which is used for the preparation of samples from different analytical methods.
For industries where digestion systems are most used, it has to do with the sectors of agriculture, environment, plastics, petrochemicals, geochemicals, metals, ceramics, among others, where the basic functions of the laboratory uses microwave digestion, which is required to obtain an analysis of the properties of samples at elemental level.
The main objective is the oxidative loss of the sample matrix, to eliminate the substance to be determined, for further analysis. To this end, samples are typically brought to a boil with a high-temperature acid.
The quality of the analysis depends mainly on sampling, mechanical preparation (washing, grinding) and sample chemistry (incineration, acid digestion), chemical analysis with different instrumental analysis and techniques. These are achieved by assimilating samples of varied nature with acid mixtures in the same cycle. Therefore, when supplied with a single reaction device, you can have an absolute record of the conditions under which digestion is being generated, all samples being in a common space.
Advantages of a Microwave Digester
The way in which a sample is dissolved depends especially on the nature of the sample, as well as on the characteristics of the component to be determined. That is, in the case of determining the content of an element, in a heterogeneous sample, the microwave digester is used, which will focus on the solution of that compound, and make its corresponding determination.
Therefore, the digestion of samples, are very often used for the preparation of substances directed to schematic methods, such as:
- Environmental analysis, regional water digestion for analysis of mineral and soil samples or determination of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in waste water.
- In the food industry, digestion is used in the Kjeldahl analysis, for the determination of nitrogen and protein content in food products, or for the preparation of the sample for cyanide determination, e.g. in almonds or nuts.
Using the microwave digester, one of the main advantages, is the process that greatly simplifies, and becomes safer because it precisely controls the parameters processes, such as pressure, temperature and digestion time, which are especially suitable for sample series processing.
Kalstein Brand Microwave Digester
We at Kalstein, are trained to meet the demands of our users, in terms of the selection of laboratory equipment. We offer you, the Microwave Digester System, corresponding to the YR series, which have attractive features, such as: The continuous 360º rotor performs the rotation in the same direction. Ensures uniform and complete digestion, also reduces engine wear, greatly prolonging engine life. The 7-inch color LCD touch screen displays real-time temperature and pressure, as well as working time and trend curves. The material in the sample digestion container is imported PFR. For the outer protective container, PEEK and fiberglass are imported which could prevent corrosion by high temperature, high pressure and acid.
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