CEM MARS6 Microwave Digestion System

What it does

The MARS 6 uses microwave energy to rapidly heat samples with acids in sealed vessels. The combination of temperature, pressure, and chemical reagents breaks down the sample matrix and brings metals/elements into solution.

Typical workflow:

Sample → Acid addition → Microwave digestion → Cooling → Filtration/dilution → ICP-OES/ICP-MS/AAS

Common applications

It can be used for digestion of:

• Soil and sediment
• Plant and food samples
• Waste and environmental samples
• Biological tissues
• Pharmaceuticals
• Polymers and other materials
• Metals and geological materials
• Water/sludge samples

Key features

The MARS 6 is designed for controlled, reproducible digestion rather than simply heating samples. Depending on the vessel setup, it can process multiple samples in one run and monitor digestion conditions such as temperature.

A major advantage of microwave digestion is that it can provide much faster and more controlled sample preparation than conventional hot-plate digestion while generally reducing contamination and acid consumption.

Example

For determining metals in soil:

1. Weigh ~0.1–0.5 g of dried soil.
2. Add an appropriate acid mixture, such as nitric acid with other acids depending on the analytical method.
3. Transfer the mixture to a compatible MARS 6 digestion vessel.
4. Run an appropriate microwave digestion program.
5. Allow the vessels to cool safely.
6. Transfer/dilute the digest to a known volume.
7. Analyze using ICP-OES or ICP-MS.

Important: The exact acid mixture, sample mass, vessel type, temperature, pressure limits, and microwave program must be selected according to the sample matrix and validated method. Sealed microwave digestion involves significant pressure and chemical hazards, so the manufacturer’s vessel and safety procedures are essential.

If you’re using a CEM MARS 6 in your laboratory, I can also explain the operating procedure, vessel setup, digestion programs, error messages, or how to develop a digestion method for a specific sample (soil, food, plant, water, etc.).