Milestone UltraWAVE 3 Single Reaction Chamber Microwave Digestion System - CAER

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) is foundational to analytical laboratories aiming to determine quantitative elemental composition. The existing ICP-MS, funded by the FY21 EEERG, is vital to the operations of UK’s Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER). Over the past 3 years, we have faced evolving research interests with more complex samples, which radically highlight the pitfalls of the standard hotplate digestion sample preparation procedures. The aim of this proposal is to acquire a Microwave Digestion System capable of providing complete digestions with higher recoveries and improved repeatability as we strive to deliver high quality data that would push energy related research efforts to the next level. Incomplete digestion is the most challenging issue with the current ICP-MS analysis. Crude oils, polymers and lithium-ion batteries are resistant to the most stringent hotplate digestion techniques. Application specialists continue to urge the use of microwave digestion to overcome these barriers because of efficient, adjustable energy control and innovative closed-vessel technology. The financial investment into the upgraded technology is significant; however, the benefits significantly support the upgrade to meet current energy research needs which will inevitably grow more intricate over time. Interestingly, Hydrofluoric Acid (HF)-free digestion techniques are being developed using microwave digestion, potentially reducing safety hazards and upkeep on engineering control equipment. This instrument will broadly support multiple departments at the University of Kentucky as well as other local entities. The Analytical Services group at CAER would provide professional staffing to operate and maintain the equipment long-term. Round robin studies at regular intervals continue to ensure quality control.