Microwave digesters are equipment that perform sample digestion in order to obtain information about its components at the elementary level, they are used in many fields, from biology, chemistry, medicine, textile industry to cosmetics industry. Microwave digestion is used by the hand with spectrophotometry because in the latter, the sample needs to be in a liquid state in order to be analyzed.
With a microwave digester multiple samples can be digested effectively in a very short period of time, increasing their usefulness. Its foundation is based on adding different types of reagents to the test sample, these can be hydrochloric acid, nitric acid or hydrogen peroxide, among others, everything will depend on the type of sample with which the analysis will be done.
Operation of a microwave digester
The main objective of microwave digesters is to decompose the samples to their basal elements for a better analysis of their components, this can be applied to samples of different types, for example, plants, foods, pharmaceuticals or soil samples, among others. The use of microwave digesters is very attractive because their digestion times are very short, this thanks to the use of closed containers and heating the sample with reagents, which allows a typical digestion can last between 20 and 40 minutes and reach about 300 ° C.
This method is based on the taking of a portion of sample that is added to the container of the microwave digester along with some type of acid previously selected, then the container is sealed and then the energy is applied to the microwave, this allows a rapid heating of the sample along with the acid. The fact that the sample is included in a closed container causes the digester to work at very high pressures and temperatures, above the boiling point of the acids, which in turn increases the oxidative potential of the acids and accelerates the decomposition of the sample to its most basic elements.
Applications of microwave digesters
Microwave digesters are very useful in many branches of science where you want to know the components of different types of samples. Their basis allows them to be used in fields such as biology, medicine, chemistry or in various industries such as cosmetics or plastics. The uses of the microwave digester in different fields are shown below:
- In biology: for the performance of enzyme tests, for the fixation of tissues or for the drying process.
- In medicine: for heating contrast media and blood plasma.
- In chemistry: for analyzing food, for preparing and heating samples, for evaporating solutions or for drying substances.
- In the industries: in the petrochemical industry, in the manufacture of plastics, ceramics or metals.
Microwave digestion in food
Microwave digestion is very important in the food industry because through it you can know the quality of food that will come to market. For example, through studies where the minerals contained in foods are evaluated, you can know the concentration of these to know if it will be necessary to perform other procedures to increase the quality of them.
Microwave digestion can also be used to assess the concentration of metals or other elements in foods. Therefore, microwave digesters are a fundamental tool in any laboratory where food analyzes are performed, since they require a high quality so that it does not affect the health of consumers.
Kalstein brand microwave digesters
At Kalstein we are MANUFACTURERS of clinical and laboratory equipment, within the latter are our microwave digesters, which are characterized by: having a non-contact pressure and temperature monitoring system, having large storage, power adjustment and a safety protection system. We have the most competitive prices on the market for all our models of microwave digesters, and we assure you that when you make your PURCHASE with us, you will have at your disposal our team of experts to clear any of your doubts.
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