Microwave-assisted sample drying

As noted earlier, not all open-vessel systems (viz. those that operate at atmospheric pressure) are of the focused type. A number of reported applications use a domestic multi-mode oven to process samples for analytical purposes, usually with a view to coupling the microwave treatment to some other step of the analytical process (generally the determination step). Below are described the most common on-line systems used so far, including domestic ovens (multi-mode systems) and open-vessel focused systems, which operate at atmospheric pressure and are thus much more flexible for coupling to subsequent steps of the analytical process. On the other hand, the increased flexibility of open-vessel systems has promoted the design of new microwave-assisted sample treatment units based on focused or multi-mode (domestic) ovens adapted to the particular purpose. Examples of these new units include the microwave-ultrasound combined extractor, the focused microwave-assisted Soxhlet extractor, the microwave-assisted drying system and the microwave-assisted distillation extractor, which are also dealt with in this section. Finally, the usefulness of the microwave-assisted sample treatment modules incorporated in robot stations is also commented on, albeit briefly as such devices are discussed in greater detail in Chapter 10. 

Fig. 9.9 Laboratory-scale microwave-assisted freeze-drying equipment. 1, MWFD chamber 2, Fiber-optical temperature sensor 3, Vacuum breakage valve, for MWFD 4, Sample supporting plate ...

In order to accelerate sample preparation, new extraction methodologies such as accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and MAE, based on the use of elevated temperature and pressure to heat the mixture sample-solvent, have been recently developed and applied for PAH extraction from meat [695] and vegetables [696-698]. Garda Falcon et al. [699] used microwave treatment with hexane to accelerate PAH extraction from freeze-dried foods. The fat extracted in this way underwent microwave assisted saponification with ethanolic KOH. Hernandez-Borges et al. [700] combined microwave-assisted hydrolysis and extraction to isolate organic pollutants from mussels, while... 

Loupy et al.7 demonstrated that the smaller of the two microwave systems could process sample sizes of30-40 g or 70 ml. For scale-up of microwave assisted dry media organic chemistry, a larger reactor was developed. Examples of reactions conducted on this instrument, some of which are presented in Table 9.1, included esterification75,... 

Palacios, M.A., M. Gomez, C. Camara, and M.A. Lopez. 1997. Stability studies of arsenate, monomethyl-arsonate, dimethylarsinate, arsenobetaine and arsenocholine in deionized water, urine and clean-up dry residue from urine samples and determination by liquid chromatography with microwave-assisted oxidation-hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometric detection. Anal. Chim. Acta 340 209-220. 

Microwave-assisted extractions (MAE) can be performed in open (focused MAE) or closed (pressurized MAE) flasks. This technique is commonly used for extractions from complex and difficult sample matrices, replacing time- and solvent-intensive Soxhlet extractions or hydrodistillations.46 MAE is also widely applied to environmental samples, for example, for extracting polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from soil, methylmercury from sediments, and trace metals and pesticide residues from plant material47 48 The use of microwave treatment instead of hydrodistillation offers a solvent-free separation technique essential oils are heated and dry-distilled 46... 

Link, D.D., H.M. Kingston, G.J. Havrilla, and L.P. Coletti. 2002. Development of microwave-assisted drying methods for sample preparation for dried spot micro-X-ray fluorescence analysis. Anal. Chem. 74 1165-1170. 

This laboratory experiment describes the preparation of a vegetation sample (e.g., grass) for radiochemical analysis. The sample is dried and ashed. In Part 12A, the ash is fused with sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate to bring it into solution. An alternative method in Part 12B uses a microwave-assisted digestion technique with nitric and hydrofluoric acid. The prepared sample is suitable for radionuclide analysis, notably for radio-strontium or plutonium. 

B. Maichin, P. Kettisch, G. Knapp, Investigation of microwave assisted drying of samples and evaporation of aqueous solutions in trace element analysis, Fresenius J. Anal. Chem., 366 (2000) 26-29. 

Before applications are dealt with, the main variables governing microwave-assisted processes and the parameters characterizing specific microwave treatments are examined. The applications discussed include not only microwave-assisted digestion and extraction — which are the two most widely implemented and hence those with the highest potential interest to readers — but also others of special significance to solid sample treatment such as microwave-assisted drying, distillation and protein hydrolysis. Finally, some safety recommendations on the use of microwave equipment are made. 

Finally, other salient uses of microwaves for treating solid samples such as microwave-assisted drying, distillation and protein hydrolysis are also briefly described. 

Heavy metals, boron (B(V)), arsenic and total phosphorus were determined in the fraction < 20 pm to improve the comparability of the results. This fraction was separated from the freeze-dried and non-milled samples by ultrasonic sieving (Ackermann 1980). Metals were analysed after microwave-assisted digestion with aqua regia at 180 °C in closed vessels by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, atomic fluorescence spectroscopy (mercury) and hydride atomic absorption spectroscopy (arsenic). 

An essential oil (EO) is internationally defined as the product obtained by hydro-, steam-, or dry-distillation of a plant or of some of its parts, or by a suitable mechanical process without heating, as in the case of Citrus fruits (AFNOR, 1998 Council of Europe, 2010). Vacuum distUladon solvent extraction combined offline with distillation simultaneous distillation extraction supercritical fluid extraction microwave-assisted extraction and hydro-distiUation and static, dynamic, and high concentration capacity headspace sampling are other techniques used for extracting the volatile fraction from aromatic plants, although the products of these processes cannot be termed EOs (Faleiro and Miguel, 2013). 

---