The acid digestion process takes place in various industries in laboratories around the world. Acid digestion can be a lengthy process, in which heated acid digests the sample. It also requires a lot of care and focus on behalf of those involved in the analysis. Instead of using open acid digestion, some laboratories have switched to automated microwave digestion systems. Here are some reasons to use a microwave digestion system in your laboratory.
Safety
In a laboratory environment, the importance of security cannot be overemphasized. It stands to reason, therefore, that one of the important benefits of a microwave digestion system is its focus on safety. Unlike open acid digestion, microwave digestion systems enclose the reaction in a closed chamber. This eliminates the possibility of analysts being exposed to toxic or corrosive acid fumes. The automated microwave digestion system further reduces the risk of injury by monitoring internal pressure and temperature. This greatly reduces the risk of system overpressure. In the unlikely event, however, there is nothing to worry about. Automated microwave digestion systems have rupture disk and vent detection mechanisms that shut down the system in the event of an accident.
efficiency
A popular reason for using a microwave digestion system may be to save time and simplify the overall digestion process. First, the architecture of the microwave digestion system enables analysts to heat multiple samples at once. This significantly reduces reaction time per sample and allows more digestions to be completed within a given time frame. Some automated microwave digestion systems can accommodate up to 10 samples. Even smaller systems can accommodate six samples at a time. Second, automated microwave digestion systems reduce the overall time for digestion by running and maintaining higher temperatures throughout the process. Since the reaction is performed in a closed system, automated microwave digestion systems can operate at higher temperatures. The higher the system temperature,
reliability
For open acid hydrolysis, completion of the extraction process is at the discretion of the analyst. Sometimes this can lead to incomplete extractions and incorrect results, which can lead to skewed data. Also, open-air digestion can only utilize acids at their atmospheric boiling point, which may not be sufficient to digest some substances. However, automated microwave digestion systems can heat acids to temperatures above their atmospheric boiling point, making it easier to completely digest more difficult substances. This is especially helpful when digesting heavy metals. Using higher temperatures is also useful for less dense materials, as it can greatly speed up the digestion process.
Versatility
Automated microwave digestion systems are available in many industries. This versatile device can be used in forensics, manufacturing, agriculture, mining and metallurgy. For example, agriculturalists use these systems to digest soil samples and separate them into basic elements. Additionally, in the mining industry, microwave digestion systems are used to digest and prepare metal samples for metallurgical analysis. Because of its high versatility and reliability, microwave digestion systems are used by many laboratories around the world, regardless of their industry.
