Faster, Cleaner, Safer: Why more labs are turning to microwave furnaces

摘要

Conventional ovens and muffle furnaces are used daily in thousands of laboratories for many different applications from drying to ashing and are designed to provide continuous heating often for long periods. Microwave furnace systems can be used for exactly the same applications, albeit with significant advantages over conventional systems. Simon Osborne, from Analytix, examines the use of microwave furnace systems, the advantages they can offer over traditional systems, and why laboratories should consider these as an alternative when replacing their current technology. To emphasise the benefits of microwave technology, we will examine one application that employs high temperatures, the determination of ash content. Whether for process control or as a preparation method for other analytical techniques, this is a relatively simple process. Many users however often comment on certain negative aspects of using conventional ovens or muffle furnace systems for this application, these being: Long ashing times creating a potential bottleneck in sample preparation; Poor programmable temperature control and occasional incomplete ashing; Safety problems with fumes from samples escaping into laboratory; Heat from system affecting laboratory working conditions; High energy consumption with systems left on continuously.