Tracking Microwave-Assisted Sample Preparation through the last years

Abstract

Sample preparation assisted by microwave irradiation has noticeablyincreased over the past decade, reducing the time spent on this step, due toits heating mechanism. The daily laboratory analysis has benefited from the useof microwave-assisted processes, which are rapid and efficient. Furthermore,the improvement of analytical results is considerable in comparison withconventional procedures even dealing with complex matrices. In the current literature, many detection techniques are reported inthe determination of trace elements and organic compounds using differentmicrowave-assisted techniques for treating samples of diverse origin.The aim of this chapter is to gather information in relationtowell-established microwave applications in analytical chemistry such asassisted digestion, combustion and extraction techniques, distillation andderivatization and finally new tendencies in on-line sample preparation usingmicrowave energy.