Teflon bomb decomposition of silicate materials in a microwave oven

A method is described for the decomposition of silicate materials in 20-tal Tefion- TFE bombs by using a domestic microwave oven. A domestic pressure cooker was used as a precautionary device to contain acid fumes. Total decomposition of the reference materials, marine sediment MESS-1 and granite G-2, was achieved in 60 s with a mixture of hydrofluoric acid and aqua regia. By using flame or graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, recoveries greater than 97% were obtained for aluminium, chromium and zinc and greater than 93% for silicon in the samples and for silicon in a pure quartz rod.