Fundamentals of Microwave Ashing
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How the PYRO Works
A special microwave-transparent ceramic muffle furnace allows microwave energy to pass through and rapidly raise the temperature of silicon carbide plates located inside the muffle.
Porous ceramic honeycomb frits built into the side walls of the muffle furnace allow a constant stream of air to pass over the sample crucibles. The combination of microwave "superheating" and the oxygen from the air flow results in a dramatic reduction of ashing times.
Temperature Monitoring
A high-precision thermocouple located in close proximity to the bottom of the ashing crucibles (and unaffected by the airflow) monitors temperatures inside the furnace. The thermocouple's signal is used as a feedback control mechanism to regulate microwave power output and maintain the user selected ramping/ashing temperature.
Choice of Crucibles
The high-efficiency microwave energy coupling characteristics of the silicon carbide heating inserts allows the use of standard metal or porcelain crucibles within the microwave furnace.
How the PYRO SA (for Sulphate Ashing) Works
The basic principles of operation are the same as the PYRO TC, with the addition of the Sulphate Ashing Module and the VAC-1000 Acid Scrubber.
Sulphuric acid fumes released from crucibles inside the muffle furnace are continuously removed, through a quartz tube connected to an air-cooled quartz collection vessel mounted outside of the unit, and to the VAC-1000 acid scrubber module. In operation, H2SO4 is added to the samples in the crucibles and placed directly in the PYRO unit. After the samples are completed, charred components, condensed in the quartz cooler and vessel, can be easily removed by simply placing them in the muffle and burning them off at high temperature.
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