Open focused microwave-assisted sample preparation procedures: Fundamentals and application to the speciation of tin and mercury in environmental samples

Open focused microwave systems have been used for sample preparation procedures with regard to the determination of trace metal species (organotins and mercury species) in environmental samples. Fundamental approaches have also been conducted to record the permittivity changes of simplified digestion solutions. Sample preparation procedures developed show that both tin and mercury species can be rapidly and quantitatively extracted for either reference sediments or biological tissues by means of rapid and simple protocols. These results underline the important potential of the use of microwave-assisted techniques in analytical chemistry.