Geological sample preparation remains one of the most critical and challenging—steps in achieving accurate and reproducible elemental analysis. In this book, we will explore how recent advances in microwave-assisted digestion and green chemistry principles are reshaping sample preparation workflows in geochemistry labs. The practical handbook features a scientific overview of the digestion challenges associated with silicate-rich, refractory, and HFSE-bearing rocks, along with method development strategies. With the cooperation of Professor Balz Kamber of Queensland University of Technology, we introduce practical insights and comparative data on microwave digestion approaches, with a focus on Single Reaction Chamber (SRC) technology.

The “Elements and Isotopes” lab at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), led by Prof. Balz Kamber, struggled to digest refractory minerals like zircon and rutile using traditional methods, which were inefficient, unsafe, and space-consuming. By adopting Milestone’s ultraWAVE 3 SRC microwave digestion system, QUT achieved safe and complete digestion of even the toughest materials, minimized contamination risks, simplified cleaning, and significantly improved sample throughput and research capability. "With ultraWAVE 3, we gained not only better performance and reliability but also the ability to run 20 samples at once, each at 100 mg. That increase in productivity, combined with lower contamination risk and safer operation, has made a big difference in how we work” - Prof. Balz Kamber, Queensland University of Technology