Abstract
The elemental analysis of soils plays an important role in
determining both the composition of the soil matrix and
the presence of elements that could potentially leach out
into the groundwater below. Accurate trace elemental
analysis of environmental samples requires effective sample
preparation methods that ensure complete digestion and
compliance with regulatory standards. The U.S. EPA Method
3051A is a commonly used sample preparation method that
employs microwave-assisted acid digestion with methoddefined
parameters. The primary focus of this study uses
the MARSXpress 2.0™ scientific microwave system and
MARSXpress™ vessels for digestion of four local soils with
various compositions following EPA Method 3051A with
analysis by ICP-OES following EPA Method 6010B. Certified
reference materials (CRMs), method blanks, and sample
spikes were digested to verify precision and accuracy, lending
confidence to the digestion and analysis of the unknown soils.
