CEM Corporation MARS 6

Overview

The MARS 6 is a microwave acid digestion system that produces clear digestate from samples for elemental analysis by ICP, ICP-MS, or AA. Rocks, plants, soil, foods, pharmaceuticals, plastics, metals and more can be digested easily using preloaded methods. For over 30 years lab technicians have been using MARS systems for sample preparation and with the latest updates to the MARS 6, the process even easier.   

How it works

Microwave acid digestion is a technique to dissolve metals bound within a sample matrix into liquid. This is achieved by exposing a sample to a strong acid in a closed vessel and raising the temperature and pressure through microwave irradiation. Both the speed of thermal decomposition of the sample, and the solubility of heavy metals in solution are increased. Once these heavy metals are in solution, they can be quantified through elemental techniques. The MARS 6 acid digestion process takes approximately 40 minutes depending on the sample type.