Presentation Profile
Digesting Petrochemicals: Technology Selection for Complex Sample Matrices
Main Author
Rick Headrick - Milestone Inc.
Abstract:
Crude oils, fuels, cokes, and catalysts present very different digestion challenges. Incomplete preparation can lead to failed quality checks, repeated analyses, delayed results, and uncertainty in elemental data. This presentation provides a practical framework for selecting closed-vessel microwave digestion technology based on sample matrix, analytical requirements, throughput, and laboratory workflow. Rotor-based systems and Single Reaction Chamber (SRC) technology will be compared, with attention to digestion performance, flexibility, safety, and sample capacity. Petrochemical case studies will show how temperature, pressure, acid chemistry, and mixed-sample processing affect digestion completeness and routine productivity. Attendees will leave with practical considerations for improving existing methods, troubleshooting difficult samples, and evaluating future sample preparation needs.
