Microwave enhanced alkaline digestion of silicate samples for determination of Fe2O3

A novel approach to the study of microwave enhanced alkaline digestion was developed for rapid digestion of silicate samples. By using alkali metal hydroxide solution as microwave digestion solvent, the feasibility and principle of digestion were discussed for the determination of Fe₂O₃ contents in quartz, kaolin, feldspar and soda-lime-silica glass. The results obtained from four standard samples and six real world samples are in good agreement with the certified values, and are comparable to the predicted results from traditional alkaline digestion method. All the above demonstrates that this new proposed method is precise, accurate and can provide a simple, fast and energy saving procedure for the determination of components in silicate samples.