Total elemental analysis digestion method evaluation on soils and clays

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Abstract
The standard digestion method for total elemental analysis of soil material by the Soil Survey Laboratory (USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service) uses a 2‐mL clay suspension with hydrofluoric acid (HF) in a closed Teflon digestion vessel (method HF‐SUS). The accuracy and efficiency of elemental recovery by method HF‐SUS was compared to: (a) modification of HF‐SUS by use of a dried sample (method HF‐DRI); (b) modification of HF‐SUS by use of a dried sample and HF+aqua regia (method HF+AR); (c) sample digestion by Li metaborate fusion (method FUS); and (d) microwave digestion of samples with HF+aqua regia in Teflon bombs (method MICRO). Three replications of three standard reference materials (SRMs), fine‐earth (2O3, Fe2O3, and K2O contents and oxide recovery (summation of experimental means for oxides of all reported elements) than all other methods.