Elemental analysis using ICP or AAS requires the digestion of samples before analysis. The microwave digester instrument has been designed to perform chemical digestion procedures under extreme pressure and temperature conditions in chemical laboratories. Digestion is understood to mean the decomposition of a solid material by means of a suitable reagent at increased temperature in a vessel that is permeable with regard to microwaves.

Digestion reagents used can include nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, phosphoric acids well as mixtures of these acids.

Applications

Typical application areas for microwave digestion include food, environmental analysis, medicine, biology, agricultural, pharmaceutical analysis, materials, geology, energy, metals and the plastics industry.