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.

Dramatic reduction of the sample preparation time

START D microwave acid digestion of soil samples according to U.S. EPA method 3052. This method specifies a total heating time of 15 minutes only. Conventional acid digestion of soil samples may take up to 4 hours.

Why Milestone?

Milestone has been active since 1988 in the field of advanced microwave sample preparation. With over thirty patents and more than 9.000 instruments installed worldwide, we are the acknowledged industry leader in microwave technology. Our commitment is to consistently provide the most effective, safest, and highest quality instrumentation for microwave sample preparation.
By listening to our customers, we have established a history of developing unique solutions to real-world problems in analytical laboratories around the world.

Why the new START D?

Microwave sample preparation is widely accepted today. With the START D, Milestone makes microwave digestion easy, safe, and affordable.
With its wide selection of rotors, the START D can process any kind of samples, from the relatively easy enviromentals, such as wastewater or sludge, to the most challenging, such as ceramics or refractory materials.