
Basic information
TOPwave
6
The following signal signs are used in the manual!
WARNING
Warning of dangerous explosive substances!
WARNING
Warning of dangerous electrical voltage!
1.2
Intended Use
WARNING
The unit is not designed for extraction and metabolization procedures employing orga-
nic solvents.
WARNING
Since sample composition is generally not precisely defined, a certain residual risk exists
when performing pressure digestion processes. Careful working practices and conscious
compliance with safety regulations can only minimize this risk, not totally eliminate it.
Due to different degrees of mixing, even identical samples can exhibit totally different
behaviors during the course of the reaction!
Please strictly comply with the operating instructions, particularly when handling the
pressure vessels, that is, when removing and opening the vessels. Incorrect handling of
the hot, pressurized vessels can result in injuries from escaping acid vapors!
The TOPwave microwave digestion system has been designed to perform chemical di-
gestion procedures under extreme pressure and temperature conditions in chemical la-
boratories. Digestion is understood to mean the decomposition of a solid material by
means of a suitable digestion reagent at increased temperature in a vessel that is per-
meable with regard to microwaves. The digestion solutions are directly heated through
the absorption of the microwave radiation by the polar digestion reagent, which gene-
rally also contains ionic components.
Digestion reagents used include nitric acid (65 %), hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid,
phosphoric acid, and sulfuric acid, as well as mixtures of these acids. The maximum ini-
tial weight for organic compounds depends on the digestion vessel being used and the
sample’s carbon content, must always be observed. The use of organic solvents is strictly
prohibited in microwaves since the spontaneous combustion of any solvent vapors that
escape into the oven chamber cannot be precluded.
Heating in the pressure vessel results in digestion temperatures in excess of 200 °C
(392 °F). The TOPwave has been specially developed for sample preparation for AAS
and ICP spectroscopy procedures. Very temperature spikes >280 °C (>536 °F) such as can
occasionally occur during the course of exothermic reactions can result in irreversible da-
mage to the Teflon vessels.
Signal signs