Systems and methods for preparing samples for chemical analysis using a cooled digestion zone

1. An apparatus for preparing samples for chemical analysis, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a container receptacle for receiving at least one sample container having a crucible portion and an expansion portion, the container receptacle comprising a heating compartment and a cooling compartment spaced apart from the heating compartment, the heating compartment being shaped to receive the crucible portion of the sample container, and the cooling compartment being shaped to receive the expansion portion of the sample container;

(b) a heater for directly heating the sample within the crucible portion of the sample container while the sample container is received within the container receptacle;

(c) a first cooler for cooling the expansion portion of the sample container while the expansion portion is received within the cooling compartment; and

(d) a second cooler for providing cooling air to the crucible portion of the sample container to cool the crucible portion contemporaneously with the direct heating of the sample while the crucible portion is received within the heating compartment without reducing the direct heating applied to the sample by the heater.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second cooler comprises a fan located within the heating compartment.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the fan has a variable speed.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a controller for controlling speed of the fan.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first cooler comprises a thermoelectric cooler within the cooling compartment.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first cooler comprises a refrigeration unit within the cooling compartment.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second cooler comprises a refrigeration unit within the heating compartment.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first cooler is integral with the second cooler to cool both the expansion portion and the crucible portion of the sample container.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heater includes an infrared heater disposed within the heating compartment for emitting infrared radiation.

10. A system for preparing samples for chemical analysis, the system comprising:

(a) a sample container including an elongate tubular body extending from an open end to a closed end, a crucible portion proximal to the closed end for holding a sample to be analyzed, and an expansion portion proximal to the open end;

(b) a container receptacle for receiving the sample container, the container receptacle comprising a heating compartment, and a cooling compartment spaced apart from the heating compartment, the heating compartment being shaped to receive the crucible portion of the sample container, and the cooling compartment being shaped to receive the expansion portion of the sample container;

(c) at least one heater for directly heating the sample within the crucible portion of the sample container while the sample container is received within the container receptacle;

(d) a first cooler for cooling the expansion portion of the sample container while the expansion portion is received within the cooling compartment; and

(e) a second cooler for providing cooling air to the crucible portion of the sample container to cool the crucible portion contemporaneously with the direct heating of the sample while the crucible portion is received within the heating compartment without reducing the direct heating applied to the sample by the at least one heater.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the heater is configured to emit infrared radiation that is selected to be absorbed by the sample in the crucible portion of the sample container, and wherein the crucible portion is transparent to the infrared radiation.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the sample container is made of quartz.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the heater includes an infrared heater disposed within the heating compartment for emitting the infrared radiation.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the infrared heater includes at least two infrared heater rings that are sized and shaped to receive and encircle the crucible portion of the sample container.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the infrared heater rings is moveable lengthwise along the crucible portion of the sample container.

16. A method for preparing samples for chemical analysis, the method comprising:

(a) placing a sample within a sample container containing an acid into a container receptacle, the container receptacle comprising a heating compartment and a cooling compartment spaced apart from the heating compartment, the sample container having a crucible portion for receiving the sample and an expansion portion, the heating compartment being shaped to receive the crucible portion of the sample container, and the cooling compartment being shaped to receive the expansion portion of the sample container;

(b) directly heating the sample with a heater within the crucible portion of the sample container, while the sample container is received within the container receptacle;

(c) cooling, with a first cooler, the expansion portion of the sample container contemporaneously with the heating of the sample, while the expansion portion is received within the cooling compartment; and

(d) providing cooling air, with a second cooler, to the crucible portion of the sample container to cool the crucible portion contemporaneously with the direct heating of the sample, while the crucible portion is received within the heating compartment, without reducing the direct heating applied to the sample by the heater.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the second cooler cools the crucible portion using at least one fan.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first cooler cools the expansion portion using a thermoelectric cooler.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first or second cooler cools the expansion portion and the crucible portion using at least one refrigeration unit.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the heater heats the sample using infrared radiation that is selected to be absorbed by the sample in the crucible portion of the sample container, and wherein the crucible portion is transparent to the infrared radiation.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the sample container is made of quartz.

22. The method of claim 16 , further comprising placing the acid within the crucible portion of the sample container.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the acid includes hydrofluoric acid.

24. The method of claim 16 , wherein the heater heats the sample using at least one infrared heater ring that is sized and shaped to receive and encircle the crucible portion of the sample container, and wherein the method further comprises moving the infrared heater ring lengthwise along the crucible portion of the sample container.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the heater heats the sample using at least two infrared heater rings.

26. The method of claim 16 , further comprising placing the sample container into a container receptacle prior to heating the sample.

27. An apparatus for preparing samples for chemical analysis, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a container receptacle for receiving at least one sample container having a crucible portion and an expansion portion, the container receptacle comprising a heating compartment and a cooling compartment spaced apart from the heating compartment, the heating compartment being shaped to receive the crucible portion of the sample container, and the cooling compartment being shaped to receive the expansion portion of the sample container;

(b) a heater for directly heating the sample within the crucible portion of the sample container while the sample container is received within the container receptacle;

(c) at least one cooler for providing cooling air to the expansion portion and the crucible portion of the sample container to cool the expansion portion and to cool the crucible portion contemporaneously with the direct heating of the sample while the expansion portion is received within the cooling compartment and while the crucible portion is received within the heating compartment and without reducing the direct heating applied to the sample by heater.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the at least one cooler includes a first cooler for cooling the expansion portion of the sample container, and a second cooler for cooling the crucible portion of the sample container.