Clean laboratory chemistry for the microwave-assisted digestion of botanical samples

Abstract

Clean laboratory conditions are a necessity when performing trace elemental analysis of botanical samples. The accurate determination of trace level elements in botanical samples is often limited by contamination encountered in sample preparation rather than by the sensitivity of the technique used for analysis. Particular sources of contamination include reagents, the analyst, labware and the laboratory environment. By incorporating closed-vessel microwave technology and a chamber with a high efficiency particulate air filtered atmosphere, the risk of contamination from the environment is greatly reduced.