Microwave Digestion is a technique used to break down the materials in a test sample. By adding strong acids and even bases and heating, the sample homogenization process is accelerated. This results in a solution in which there are highly solubilized organic materials and metal ions, suitable to perform a spectrophotometry analysis and know the components that make up the resulting solution.
This technique is preferred by most scientists, compared to other techniques, for its speed and effectiveness. For example, in methods such as incineration, where the sample is burned until only the ashes remain, many analytes necessary for further analysis are lost. In fusion decomposition, on the other hand, the reaction is more complex and labor intensive. Microwave digesters can break down samples in 20 to 40 minutes.