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R9 Laboratory SOP 420

MICROWAVE DIGESTION OF SOLID SAMPLES

Summary

This SOP provides procedures for the digestion of solid samples for the analysis of total/strong acid-leachable metals. It is applicable to soil, sediment, sludge, biological tissue, oil and other solid-matrix samples. Digests prepared using the procedures in this SOP can be analyzed for metals by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption (GFAA), Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-ES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). This SOP is based on EPA Method 3051. Typical metals analyzed in the digests include the following:

Aluminum Boron Copper Molybdenum Sodium
Antimony Cadmium Iron Nickel Thallium
Arsenic Calcium Lead Potassium Vanadium
Barium Chromium Magnesium Selenium Zinc
Beryllium Cobalt Manganese Silver

A representative sample is digested in concentrated nitric acid using microwave heating with a suitable laboratory microwave unit. The sample is placed in a Teflon™ PFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) Advanced Composite Vessel with concentrated nitric acid. The vessel is capped and heated in the microwave unit. After cooling, the vessel's contents are diluted to volume and analyzed by the appropriate method.

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