Microwave ovens have been available for domestic cooking since 1956. This method of heating is very efficient compared to conventional cooking methods. As a result many applications have arisen particularly in the field of analytical chemistry. Most routine analysis of biological and chemical samples by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) involves the time consuming operation of digesting the samples in acid on a hot plate. However, much time saving has been demonstrated by the use of microwave digestion, and successful digestions have been achieved in 10% of the time required for traditional methods. The first digestions using microwave heating were performed in open vessels. However many problems were identified.

Bibliography: leaves 115-116.