Analysis of Small-Mass Biological Samples by ICP MS Using Microwave Acid Digestion of Several Samples in the Common Atmosphere of a Standard Autoclave

To expand the available tools for the analysis of samples of biological and plant origin of small mass (10–20 mg) using ICP MS, we developed a construction made of three compact teflon reaction minivessels (inserts) of an internal volume of 3 mL, placed in a standard autoclave (EasyPrep) of a volume of 100 cm3 of a MARS-5 microwave system (CEM). The acid digestion of samples in reaction minivessels requires no more than 1.5 mL of highly pure acids. The digestion of samples proceeds in the common gas atmosphere of a standard autoclave filled with a needed volume of acids of pure for analysis grade. The method was tested on reference materials of plants and biological sample. The results obtained are in agreement with the certified values. The developed method ensures the decrease of the detection limits and obtaining new data on the concentrations of B, Ga, Y, Nb, Tl, Bi, and a number of rare-earth elements in the reference materials.