Comparing Sealed Chamber Digestion with Other Digestion Methods Used for Plant Tissue Analysis

Abstract

Abstract A sealed chamber digestion (SCD) method was developed as a rapid and simple means of tissue digestion for micro‐samples. The objective of this study was to test SCD against other digestion methods used for plant‐tissue analyses. Sealed chamber digestion, dry ash combustion, nitric/perchloric acid wet ash digestion, and sulfuric acid/hydrogen peroxide wet ash digestion methods were evaluated for efficacy of organic matter destruction for elemental analysis of plant tissues. Eight tissue standards were collected from the National Bureau of Standards, the University of Georgia, and the Everglades Research and Education Center, University of Florida. The objective of this study was to compare the previously reported SCD method with other digestion methods used for plant tissue analyses. With the exception of analysis for Al and Fe, comparison of methods of analyses indicated that SCD did not differ greatly from other digestion methods. Digestion method efficacy, as determined by nutrient analysis, appeared to reflect the plant material digestibility and digestion method. The advantages and disadvantages of the methods studied are discussed.