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Microwave Digestion of Asphaltite

Summary
Asphaltite is digested in an acid solution using an Analytik Jena microwave digestion system.

Equipment Type Manufacturer

TOPwave® Analytik Jena AG
CX 100 Analytik Jena AG

Reagents
HNO3 65% 10 ml
HF 40% 3 ml
H3BO3 saturated solution 30 ml

Procedure
1st step:
Weigh 200 mg of the sample into the digestion vessel and add 10 ml of nitric acid and 3 ml
hydrofluoric acid. Shake the mixture carefully or stir with a clean PTFE or glass bar. Wait at least
20 min. before the vessel is closed. Heat in the microwave oven with the following program:

Temperature Program Step 1 2 3 4

T [°C] 155 200 200
P [bar] 80 80 80
Power [%] 80 90 90
Ramp [min] 2 2 1
Time [min] 15 30 30
To avoid foaming and splashing wait until the vessels have cooled to room temperature (about 20 min). Carefully open
the digestion vessel in a fume hood wearing hand, eye and body protection since a large amount of gas will be produced
during the digestion process.

Microwave digestion of Asphaltite

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Reference: TOPwave_98_09_e | OB
2nd step:
Add 30 ml of the boric acid solution, close the vessel and heat in the microwave oven with program
“complexation H3BO3”.

Temperature Program Step 1 2 3 4

T [°C] 190
P [bar] 50
Power [%] 90
Ramp [min] 5
Time [min] 10
Wait until the vessels have cooled to room temperature. Carefully open the digestion vessel in a fume hood wearing
hand, eye and body protection.

Results
Clear solution

Notes: This application serves only as a guide line and may need to be optimized for your sample.

®
Chemicals of Sigma Aldrich were used.

Printout and further use permitted with a reference to the source.

© 2009 Analytik Jena AG
Publisher:
Analytik Jena AG
Konrad-Zuse-Straße 1 Telephone +49 (0) 36 41 / 77-70 www.analytik-jena.com
07745 Jena Fax +49 36 41 / 77-92 79 info@analytik-jena.com

Microwave digestion of Asphaltite

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Reference: TOPwave_98_09_e | OB