Method and apparatus for open digestion of specimens utilizing inclined

Abstract

Acid digestion of liquid specimens which are to be subsequently analyzed by spectroscopy to identify recoverable or dissolved metals is effected in an open digestion operation in apparatus which includes inclined, vertically spaced saddles on which specimen containing glass jars are supported in corresponding inclined orientation so that a surface of the specimens in the jars is overlaid by the wall of the jar and the jar opening is remote from the specimen, this arrangement allowing that the vessel wall facing the specimen surface, during digestion, will serve as a condensing surface for specimen vapors evolved incident digestion. The saddles are carried on an upright frame rotatably mounted on a base so that the upright frame can be moved between jar loading/unloading and digestion operation positions, jar loading/unloading on the upright frame involving inserting/removing the jars on the saddles while the frame is in a position where it is conveniently accessed by an operator for this purpose, but the upright frame thereafter being rotated to a digestion position thereof that reduces greatly, to the safety advantage of an operator, any chance of splatter of specimen during the digestion striking the operator. The saddles each embody a heater therein.