Destruction of organic materials for inorganic analysis
Animal and plant tissue, biological fluids, and organic compounds are usually decomposed by wet digestion with a boiling oxidizing acid or mixture of acids, or by dry ashing at a high temperature (400-700°C) in a muffle furnace. In wet digestion, the acids oxidize organic matter to carbon dioxide, water, and other volatile products, which are driven off, leaving behind salts or acids of the inorganic constituents. In dry ashing, atmospheric oxygen serves as the oxidant. The organic matter is burned off, leaving an inorganic residue. Oxidizing aids may be employed in dry ashing.