Metalyser
®
Soils HM4000
Instruction Manual v3.0
4.3 DIGESTION PROCEDURE FOR DRY SOILS
1.
Take an excess amount of dry soil sample using the scoop provided.
2.
Use the provided pestle and mortar to crush and soften the soil clumps
and mix it up until a uniform powdery soil sample is obtained.
3.
Place the empty graduated measuring beaker on the balance provided
and press Tare or Zero on the balance, and wait until it displays
“0.00
g”.
4.
Use the spatula to gently add the crushed soil into the digestion beaker,
until it displays “1.00 g”
5.
Add approx. 30mL of de-ionised water to the graduated beaker.
6.
Add D1, D2 and D3 to the graduated beaker and then fill up with de-
ionised water to the 50ml mark.
7.
Pour the full contents of the graduated beaker into the digestion beaker
and swirl to mix.
8.
Decant from beaker to beaker to ensure full transfer of soil
9.
Connect the digestion beaker to the mixer.
10.
Choose the “Digest” method from the list of methods in the Metalyser
®
.
Select condition and allow the stirrer to run for 10 minutes.
11.
After 10 mins, remove the beaker from the stirrer head and let it settle
for 5 minutes.
12.
Connect a syringe filter to a 5mL syringe. Attach a short length of tubing
to the filter and use the syringe for taking 3.5ml of the digested sample.
13.
Add the 3.5 mL sample to the sample analysis beaker and fill to the
mark just below the overflow with de-ionised water.
14.
The soil extract sample is now ready to be analysed using the
Metalyser
®
.
