ICP-OES and ICP-MS are common techniques for elemental analysis. For accurate results, high reproducibility, and good recovery rates, you have to prepare your samples appropriately. The most commonly used sample preparation method for ICP-OES and ICP-MS analysis is microwave digestion. Although we present more detailed information in “A Chemist’s Guide to Sample Preparation” (which you can get for free here), some of the most important parameters for this method are presented below.
- Acid mixture
- Digestion temperature
- Sample weight and heating time
- Microwave digestion system