Retention of Volatile Elements Using the MR-85 Auto-venting Vessels in the MPS 320 Microwave

Introduction

The MPS 320™ is a versatile microwave digestion oven, with a variety of vessels and configurations available, including the newer MR-85, which auto-vents at 20 bar. Advantages of the MR-85 auto-venting vessels include the lack of consumables, being easy to work with, and increased capacity, which allows more samples to be digested at the same time than with other vessel types – as long as the venting is not excessive. However, a concern about the MR-85 vessels may be the possible loss of volatile elements if the pressure exceeds 20 bar, which causes vessel venting.

This work demonstrates that volatile elements are retained when using the MR-85 auto-venting vessels on the MPS 320 microwave, while providing a host of other benefits including the lack of consumables, ease of use, and increased capacity, for those samples capable of being digested with the lower pressure limit of the MR-85 auto-venting vessels.