Efficient Digestion of Samples in Ultra-trace Analysis
The ECOPRE is the ideal system for acid digestions and aqua regia extractions in environmental, food and bioanalytical applications
The ECOPRE from Odlab is a system that works according to the method of pressure-free digestion under reflux (corresponding to DIN ISO 11466). It combines precision with easy handling and cost efficiency.
Digestions and extractions are a widely used method to dissolve samples for elemental trace analysis using spectroscopic methods such as ICP, AAS, etc. During digestion in an open vessel, aggressive acid vapors can be generated which attack metal parts in the fume hood and, in the case of sensitive analytical equipment, impurities from glass apparatus or contaminated plastics can also cause high blank values.
The system is metal-free and consists of a fluoropolymer-coated graphite heating plate with touch-screen controller, a graphite rack (also coated), for efficient heat transfer and digestion vessels with absorption caps made of PFA. The individual components of the modular system are available in different versions and can be individually assembled. Multiple samples can be digested simultaneously in a time- and cost-efficient manner. Additional water cooling is not necessary.
The digestion vessels are made entirely of PFA fluoropolymer and are therefore highly pure, inert, acid and heat resistant and have an anti-adhesive surface. These material properties lead to lower blank values and more reliable analysis results, as well as to an improvement of the stability of the digestion solution until the subsequent element determination. The design of the digestion unit also allows volatile elements such as mercury, arsenic and boron to be retained in the acid blank in the absorption cap for subsequent analysis. Another advantage: the PFA vessels are unbreakable, reusable and easy to clean.
The digestion vessels (‘BaekDu’ series) are available in different volumes (15 – 300mL) and allow sample weights from 0.2 up to 5g. This is an advantage for some applications, as larger sample weights can improve the detection limit.
The included touch screen controller is intuitive to use and allows to generate temperature curves with ramps and plateaus by yourself or to simply call pre-installed programs (e.g. for food samples or for hexavalent chromium according to US-EPA3060A). For documentation purposes, temperature curves can be recorded and exported.
