The Use of Microwave Technology for Dry Ashing Procedures

Dry ashing procedures can often take from several hours to overnight for completion. Typically, these analyses are performed using resistance muffle furnaces. A review of an alternative dry ashing technique which utilizes microwave instrumentation will be presented. Examples of microwave dry ashing procedures where sample analysis times are reduced to minutes will be shown. A variety of sample matrices will be analyzed by standard dry ashing techniques using a resistance muffle furnace and a microwave powered furnace. Comparisons between the two techniques will be made on the preparation and handling of each sample. Performance comparisons including accuracy, precision and speed of analysis will also be shown. The effectiveness of using a self-sealing quartz crucible for total volatiles in carbon filled polymers will be discussed and compared to an inert atmosphere technique. Data presented will show that analysis performed by rapid, microwave dry ashing techniques can be completed in minutes, with results comparable to resistance furnace techniques.