Why Pyro?

The drawbacks of conventional ashing furnaces

The determination of ash content is an important test procedure, performed in thousands of laboratory each day, for process and quality control purposes. Ashing tests are also carried out on polymers, pharmaceuticals, food and feed samples, as a prerequisite in analytical procedures. Conventional muffle furnaces commonly used for ashing samples are inefficient in a number of respects. While ashing is a relatively simple procedure, it is time consuming and a tedious task, requiring hours to be accomplished. The energy requirements and operating costs associated with conventional electrical resistance muffle furnaces are quite high. Another drawback of these furnaces is that working condition in laboratories where they are operated are adversely affected. Laboratory temperatures can rise to uncomfortable levels, as heat diffuses from furnaces, and odors generated from ashing of the samples become present.

Milestone innovative PYRO microwave ashing system

Microwave ashing a breakthrough for quality control and rapid sample preparation. Milestone offers two microwave ashing systems to meet the needs of your laboratory. The PYRO is a highly efficient alternative to conventional muffle furnaces. The PYRO dramatically reduces ashing times, from hours to minutes.
The PYRO SA is identical to the PYRO, with an additional module specially engineered for sulphate ashing procedures. It allows analysts to add H2SO4 to samples and place crucibles directly into the microwave muffle furnace without a preliminary charring step. Tedious handling/monitoring of samples, and operator exposures to acid fumes, are eliminated.
The PYRO systems' unique design eliminates equipment corrosion and acid fume pollution, greatly reducing analyst exposure to acid fumes. These labstations offer you the fastest, cleanest, most versatile way to ash a wide variety of samples.

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 any type of crucible (metal, porcelain, quartz, etc.) within the microwave furnace.