The gateway to elemental analysis.
Dissolving a solid sample completely in acid, under elevated temperature and pressure, inside a sealed microwave-transparent vessel.
The result: every element originally locked in the solid matrix ends up as free ions in a clear solution, ready for measurement by ICP-OES, ICP-MS, atomic absorption, or other elemental techniques.
The bottleneck
A modern ICP-MS takes under two minutes per sample; preparation takes hours. The expensive spectrometer sits idle while preparation catches up.
Where the errors are
Incomplete digestion means low, imprecise results; volatile loss under-recovers mercury and arsenic; contamination from open vessels inflates results.
Where the hazards are
Concentrated hot acids, high pressures, potentially explosive chemistry in open beakers.
Why microwave works better.
| Hotplate | Hot Block | Microwave (closed vessel) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | 2–8 hrs | 1–4 hrs | 20–45 min (batch) / ~5 min (sequential) |
| Max temperature | ~120 °C | ~150 °C | 200–260 °C |
| Volatile retention | Poor | Poor | Excellent |
| Contamination risk | High | Moderate | Low |
| Complete digestion of refractory matrices | Often not | Often not | Achieved |
| Automatic documentation | No | No | Yes |
Batch (MARS 6, MARSXpress 2.0)
All samples processed simultaneously; one method applies to all; highest throughput for similar matrices; best for high-volume homogeneous sample types.
Sequential (BLADE)
Each sample processed individually under its own method; mixed matrices possible in the same run; approximately 5 minutes per sample; best for varied, mixed or daily-intake laboratories.
| Matrix | Acid combination | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Most organics, metals, soils | HNO₃ alone or with H₂O₂ | Oxidises organic matter, dissolves most metals |
| Precious metals (Au, Pt, Pd) | HNO₃ + HCl (aqua regia) | The only combination dissolving gold |
| Silicates (rock, soil, glass, ceramic) | HNO₃ + HF | HF essential to attack Si-O bond |
| Refractory organics, high-lipid | HNO₃ + H₂O₂ | H₂O₂ boosts oxidising power |
| High-temperature work | HNO₃ + H₂SO₄ | H₂SO₄ raises boiling point |
HF requires special vessel materials and handling precautions; always refer to the specific vessel compatibility guide.
USEPA 3051A (sediments, sludges, soils, oils) · USEPA 3052 (siliceous and organically based matrices, with HF) · USEPA 3015A (aqueous samples) · EN ISO 54321 (soil, biowaste, sludge, waste) · EN 13805 (foodstuffs) · ICH Q3D / USP <233> (pharmaceutical elemental impurities) · AOAC Official Methods (food and feed).
MARS 6
Batch throughput, up to 40 vessels.
View product →MARSXpress 2.0
Batch, intelligent operation, DIN/EN compliant.
View product →BLADE
Sequential, ~5 minutes per sample, for mixed matrices.
View product →Legacy systems supported: Discover SP-D, MARS 5, MARSXpress (original) — see Legacy Instrument Support.