Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
Appropriate sample preparation is essential to achieve both accuracy and precision in analysis of materials. This preliminary step is one of the most time-consuming parts of many analyses and has become the rate limiting step for such multi-element techniques as ICP, AA, GFAAS and ICPMS. Acid dissolution of biological and botanical samples can take from 4 to 48 hours using classical digestion techniques. Standard reflux methods used in EPA procedures may take from 24–96 hours. Many of these same samples require only 10 to 20 minutes with microwave digestions, dramatically reducing preparation time. Volatile elements such as selenium and phosphorus can be quantitatively retained in a sealed vessel using microwave decomposition prior to instrumental analysis (1). The technique has been tested on all the major sample types including biological, botanical, geological, alloy, and glassy samples and has demonstrated advantages for each of these sample groups. The development of microwave procedures for each of these sample types is currently an intense area of research.