Hanon MDS-15 High-Throughput Sealed Microwave Digestion and Extraction Workstation

Overview

The Hanon MDS-15 is an industrial-grade, high-throughput sealed microwave digestion and extraction workstation engineered for precision, safety, and versatility in regulated laboratory environments. It operates on the principle of controlled microwave energy absorption by polar molecules—primarily water and acids—within sealed reaction vessels, enabling rapid, uniform, and reproducible thermal decomposition of complex matrices under elevated temperature and pressure. Unlike open-vessel or conventional hotplate digestion, the MDS-15 maintains fully closed reaction systems throughout the entire process, eliminating volatile loss, cross-contamination, and operator exposure to hazardous fumes. Its dual-magnetron 1600 W microwave source, coupled with real-time piezoelectric pressure and platinum resistance temperature detection, delivers closed-loop power modulation—ensuring consistent energy delivery regardless of sample load or matrix heterogeneity. Designed for compliance-critical workflows, the system supports method development and validation aligned with ASTM D5511, ISO 11466, USP , and EPA Methods 3050B, 3051A, and 3052.

Key Features

• Industrial 65 L stainless steel cavity with multi-layer PFA coating for long-term corrosion resistance against aggressive acid mixtures (e.g., HNO₃/HF/HCl/H₂O₂)
• Dual-magnetron microwave generation with non-pulsed, frequency-variable power control—enabling precise thermal ramping and hold stability
• Auto-Pop™ passive safety door: six-layer structural design with spring-damped horizontal sliding motion and dual electronic/mechanical interlocks for fail-safe pressure containment
• Xtra Fiber™ outer vessels—certified aerospace composite material rated to 66 MPa and 600°C—eliminating risk of catastrophic rupture common with PEEK-based alternatives
• Piezoelectric crystal pressure sensing: direct, isolated measurement at each vessel base; no capillary tubing, zero risk of clogging or cross-contamination
• UniTurn™ continuous unidirectional rotation: eliminates positional heating bias and reduces mechanical wear on drive components
• Integrated F-DRY microwave drying accessory: TFM-coated 27 cm diameter drying plate with three-speed turbulent airflow; achieves moisture removal in ≤25% of conventional oven time without charring or analyte loss

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The MDS-15 accommodates three interchangeable rotor configurations—GP-100 (16 × 100 mL), QZ-100 (8 × 100 mL quartz), and LV-500 (8 × 500 mL)—supporting diverse sample types across environmental, food, geological, clinical, and materials testing disciplines. The GP-100 rotor uses TFM-lined inner vessels rated to 310°C/15 MPa and is suitable for routine digestion of soils, sediments, biological tissues, and polymers. The QZ-100 quartz rotor enables real-time visual monitoring up to 320°C/15 MPa and is ideal for kinetic studies and HF-free digestion of siliceous materials. The LV-500 rotor—with full-vessel magnetic stirring—supports high-mass (up to 10 g) digestion of heterogeneous samples such as coal, sludge, and fatty foods, minimizing subsampling error. All rotors comply with GLP/GMP documentation requirements; audit trails, method locking, and user access levels are configurable per FDA 21 CFR Part 11 guidelines.

Software & Data Management

The workstation runs on Hanon’s proprietary NovaControl™ software platform, supporting method creation, execution logging, and real-time parameter visualization via Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Each run generates a tamper-proof digital record—including pressure/temperature/time profiles, power modulation history, and safety event logs—with automatic timestamping and user authentication. Optional IR infrared full-vessel scanning provides parallel temperature mapping across all positions, enhancing method robustness for regulatory submissions. Data export conforms to ASTM E1957-compliant CSV and PDF formats; integration with LIMS is supported via OPC UA and HL7 interfaces. Remote monitoring is enabled through standard web browsers or mobile applications—allowing live video feed from QZ-100 reactors and push notifications for cycle completion or anomaly detection.

Applications

• Environmental analysis: heavy metal quantification (As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg) in soils, sludges, and airborne particulates per EPA 6010D/6020B
• Food safety: multielement determination in high-fat matrices (e.g., dairy, meat, oils) using modified AOAC 999.11 protocols
• Geochemical testing: rare earth element (REE) and trace metal recovery from silicate rocks and ores without HF use
• Pharmaceutical QA/QC: residual catalyst (Pd, Pt, Rh) analysis in active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs)
• Materials science: dissolution of ceramic composites, battery cathodes, and semiconductor wafers for impurity profiling
• Academic research: microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis, solvent extraction, and Kjeldahl nitrogen determination

FAQ

Does the MDS-15 support HF-containing digestion methods?

Yes—the QZ-100 quartz rotor is fully HF-compatible; the GP-100 and LV-500 rotors use TFM liners and are not recommended for HF unless specifically validated.
Is method validation documentation available for regulatory submissions?

Yes—Hanon provides IQ/OQ/PQ protocol templates, uncertainty budgets, and calibration certificates traceable to NIST standards.
Can the system operate unattended overnight?

Yes—fully autonomous operation is supported with integrated cooling, door interlock verification, and emergency shutdown logic compliant with IEC 61000-6-4 EMC standards.
What maintenance is required for the piezoelectric pressure sensors?

None—the solid-state sensors require no recalibration or consumables; routine verification is performed during annual service using certified pressure standards.
Is third-party software integration possible?

Yes—NovaControl™ exposes RESTful APIs and supports SCADA-level integration via Modbus TCP and OPC UA for enterprise lab automation.