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Why microwave sample preparation?

In the recent years microwave sample preparation has become the benchmark technology in digesting samples for AAS, AES, ICP, and ICP-MS. Advantages of this technology include:

  • Short digestion times. Minutes, not hours!
  • No loss of volatile elements. Complete recovery of mercury, arsenic, cadmium etc.
  • No acid fumes. Improved laboratory working conditions.
  • No sample contamination from the environment.
  • No cross contamination.
  • Low blanks, as minimal quantities of acids are used.
  • Unattended operation.
  • Easily reproducible and fully documented methods.

In a chemical reaction, the higher the reaction temperature, the shorter the reaction time. Used in combination with closed vessel technology, microwaves allow for fast heating of solutions far in excess of their normal boiling temperature.

Advanced Vessel Technology
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‘Vent-and-reseal’ vessels are the foundation of Milestone’s microwave digestion technology. Continuously enhanced, this patented technology provides analysts with unsurpassed performance capabilities.

  • Highest temperature and pressure
  • Highest safety standards
  • Easy of use
  • Fast air cooling

While other devices use membranes or burst disks which render a vessel useless after venting, the Milestone system releases only the excess pressure from the vessels. Therefore there is no stress to the door of the microwave system, as could happen in the case of a vessel’s bursting. This vessel technology is the perfect complement to the Ethos EZ pressure-responsive door, resulting in the safest microwave system available today.


Patented Vent and Reseal Technology

The ‘dome-shaped’ spring is temporarily flattened in case of overpressure (1), allowing the cap to lift-up (2) slightly and release the pressure. Once the pressure has been released, the cap closes again (3), and the microwave program can continue.


Burst disk venting

When a specific pressure is achieved, the disk bursts, and the pressure dramatically drops to zero. Sample is lost, and the program must be manually stopped.



Milestone unique vent-and-reseal venting

Only the excess pressure is released from the vessel, and the digestion process can be completed in full safety.

Flexible Applications
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Open and Closed-Vessel Digestion in a single microwave.

Convert your Ethos EZ into the Ethos MOD for open vessel digestions.
The Ethos MOD (Microwave Open Digestion) system consists of a microwave unit with an MOD-8 rotor, for processing up to eight samples simultaneously, a VAC- 4000 acid scrubber module, and a fully automated acid dosing system. The microwave unit is equipped with contact-less infrared temperature control in all vessels for consistent and reproducible results.

Operation is very simple: place the samples to be digested into the 250 ml glass or quartz vessels of the rotor. Then select the appropriate method for easy, medium, or difficult samples–or customize the time-at-temperature profile and dosing parameters to create your own program, which can be stored for repeated use. Press ‘Start’, and the system will automatically carry out the program, monitoring and controlling the temperature in each vessel, and continuously adjusting the microwave power output to match the desired temperature profile.

The fully automated dosing system will deliver precise amounts of as many as three different reagents at specified intervals. As the digestion proceeds, the VAC-4000 acid scrubber module safely and efficiently exhausts and neutralizes the acid vapours produced.

Variety of Vessels
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A wide range of vessels are available from Milestone, to accommodate all sample preparation requirements.

Rotor Type
Vessels nr.
Vessel material
Vessel volume
Max. Temperature
Max. Pressure
SK-10
10
TFM
100 ml
300 °C
100 bar
Nova-10
10
TFM
75 ml
300 °C
100 bar
PRO-16
16
TFM
75 ml
200 °C
30 bar
PRO-24
24
TFM
75 ml
200 °C
30 bar
Q-20
20
Quartz
45 ml
250°C
40 bar
MOD-8
8
Glass or Quartz
200 ml
-
-

Q-20: Ultra Trace

The Q-20 offers elevated performance specifically for ultra-trace analysis, unsurpassed ease of use, and full control of all digestion parameters in all vessels as well as:

  • High sample throughput
    • Easy handling
    • Rapid heating
    • Rapid cooling
  • Elevated digestion quality
    • Suitability for ultra-trace analysis
    • Low blank
    • Low memory effect
    • No contamination
  • Full control of all digestion parameters
    • Temperature control in all vessels
    • Pressure control in all vessels

SK-10: High Pressure Rotor

High pressure rotor suitable for all samples, including difficult organic and inorganic refractory materials. Ensures complete digestion of larger amounts of highly reactive organics, such as food/feed, oils, plastics, pharmaceuticals.

PRO-16/PRO-24:
Medium Pressure High Throughput Rotors

High throughput rotors suitable for easy organic samples or environmental applications, according to the U.S. EPA method 3051A. Easy handling and rapid cooling capabilities.

Nova-10: High Temperature Rotor

High temperature rotor able to withstand extremely high temperatures for long lasting complete digestion of the most challenging samples. Suitable for very difficult inorganic materials such as silicon carbide, metal oxides, geological, and refractory materials.

The unique MOD-8 Rotor

Simultaneous digestion of up to 8 samples
The MOD-8 rotor allows) for the simultaneous open-vessel digestion of up to eight samples, in 250 ml glass or quartz vessels.
The individual vessels are isolated, each with its own separately connected vacuum exhaust line, so there is no risk of cross contamination. Furthermore, each vessel can also be individually connected to the automated dosing system, to ensure precise control over the distribution of acid to each sample.

A large selection of high purity Quartz and TFM inserts is available for all Milestone pressure vessels, for smaller sample amounts or to minimize the dilution factor.

  

Acid digestion of 0,5 g food sample (dry) with the SK-12 rotor

 

Acid digestion of 0,25 g Chromite with the Nova-10 rotor

2007 © Milestone Inc. :: email: mwave@milestonesci.com call: 866-995-5100