Radio Frequency Oxygen Excitation Apparatus for Low-Temperature Ashing

¹ Laboratory of Histology and Pathology, Oral Medicine and Surgery Branch, National Institute of Dental Research, and Biomedical Engineering and Instrumentation Branch, Division of Research Services, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland

A low-temperature ashing apparatus was assembled from commercially available radio frequency transmitting equipment. This device produces a stream of excited oxygen that will oxidize organic matter at low temperatures. Preliminary experiments and observations indicate the usefulness of this instrument for macroashing and microashing of biologic specimens before certain analytical procedures. A low-temperature sample chamber was devised in which a high level of oxygen excitation could be maintained without causing an amorphorous calcium phosphate compound or detectable changes in bone crystallites. This system also appears to be sensitive to trace amounts of oxidizable organic residue.