Setting the

new standard
for sample digestion

TM
A superior alternative
to conventional methods.
Digestions are completed
in minutes with accuracy
and precision.
Introducing ColdBlock

ColdBlock digestion
technology is the Cooling zone
promotes
first and only sample condensation and
sample retention
Accurate recovery
of elements
digestion technology and reduced
digestion time

that uses focused short-

wave infrared heating Focused short-wave
and a cooling zone to infrared light delivers
energy directly to
dissolve solid sample sample particles
reducing sample
Achieves digestion
in minutes
matter into a solution for digestion time

multi-element analysis.
Benefits for Your Lab
SPEED SIMPLICITY
What would a reduction in ColdBlock can be set up by
digestion time from hours a single person in less than
to minutes do for your lab 30 minutes.
workflow and productivity?
Simple software controls make
Digestions using ColdBlock it possible to save and reuse
have an average cycle time of multiple digestion methods.
10-40 minutes, significantly
faster than microwave or Maintenance and cleaning
hot plate. Bulk handling requirements are less than
of samples (load/unload) 10 minutes per week.
adds further efficiency.

SAFETY SAVINGS
ColdBlock eliminates the Shorter digestion, faster
need for hazardous throughput and shorter cycle
perchloric acid. time leads to a significant
increase in lab productivity.
Safe open-air operation
within a vent hood requires Customers report a 10-30%
no pressurization. A cooling reduction in costs compared
zone allows for safer handling to hot block and microwave
of test tubes. No time- sample digestion methods.
consuming pressurization/
depressurization steps
are required.

Sample digestion is a necessary process, yet traditional methods

such as hot plate, hot block and microwave have had little
advancement or improvement. ColdBlock is used in food,
agriculture, mining, metals, and consumer goods applications.

Environmental Food & Mining Metals & Consumer

Agriculture Metal Alloys Goods
ColdBlock in the Mining Sector
ColdBlock Strong Acid Digestion
Replaces 4-Acid Methods
Preparation of many mining sample types (base
metal, lithium, uranium, rare earths, among others) is
done using a method called 4-Acid Digestion. This
industry-standard sample preparation method is
used for multi-element analysis of mining samples,
from exploration to ores & concentrates. These near-
total digestions require the use of 4 acids including
hydrochloric, nitric, hydrofluoric, and perchloric
ColdBlock sample digestion technology is being used acids. 4-Acid Digestion is a lengthy, labor-intensive,
in the mining industry around the world — Canada, US, expensive method that takes hours to complete.
Europe, S. Africa, Australia, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Bolivia,
and Vietnam — in a wide range of mining applications:
■ Base metal and complex poly-metallic operations, How much do you pay for
■ Precious metal operations where it can 4-acid digestions? How long
replace fire assay, do you wait for results?
■ Lithium mining and processing

■ Rare Earth mining and processing

■ Uranium mining operations ColdBlock’s Strong Acid Digestion method replaces

■ Metal Concentrate analysis — grade traditional 4-Acid Digestions with a significantly
and penalty elements faster process that eliminates the need for hazardous
perchloric acid, while maintaining precision and
Sample digestion is the most time consuming, accuracy required across all mining sample types.
hazardous, and most labour-intensive step in the It is a simple, straight-forward process that:
assaying process. All ColdBlock methods — base ■ Results in a digestion that is equivalent to
metal, gold, silver, lithium, and other sample types 4-Acid methods,
— significantly shorten this process, from hours to
■ Requires just 30-40 minutes (vs 2-4 hours
minutes, with a simpler, more cost-effective process,
for traditional four-acid),
that also results in improved workplace safety.
■ Reduces labour requirements & training,
while improving workplace safety.
Used by mining labs around the
The ColdBlock Strong Acid Digestion method
world – faster, simpler, safer, eliminates the need for perchloric acid, and also
neutralizes the small amount of hydrofluoric acid
lower-cost
used in the procedure with boric acid — it is simply
a safer process. The method still achieves ‘near total’
ColdBlock sample digestion methods are developed sample digestion, with metal analyte recoveries,
through an extensive testing and verification process, precision and accuracy across typical exploration and
completed in our in-house lab, often in partnership mining sample types, equivalent to traditional 4-acid
with leading commercial and industrial laboratories. methods. The method can also reduce the need to
take the sample to ‘incipient dryness’ eliminating
this source of operator error and further reducing
digestion time to just 30 minutes.

ColdBlock’s Strong Acid Digestion method has been

tested against a range of certified reference materials
(CRMs) from African Mineral Standards, CDN labs,
Geostats, & OREAS. This work, completed and verified
by several leading commercial mining labs, shows
excellent comparison to certified 4-Acid Digestion
results for all CRMs, across all elements of interest
including base metals, rare earth elements, battery
metal elements like lithium, as well as radioactive
ColdBlock’s aqua regia digestion methods for Gold
elements like uranium & thorium.
analysis take less than 20 minutes, and ColdBlock
digesters can accommodate samples sizes up to
Simple Aqua Regia Digestions
in a Fraction of the Time Gold and Silver analysis on
Many mining samples do not require the near-full sample sizes up to 30g, with
digestion that 4-Acid and Strong-Acid Digestion
results in <20 minutes
methods provide. Sometimes, simple 2- or 3-acid
digestions are all that is required for an accurate
reading of key elements of interest, such as gold, 30 grams. These methods have been confirmed with
copper, silver, and many other elements. testing on over a dozen different certified reference
materials (CRMs) and are being used around the world
The ColdBlock Lab Services team have developed — including leading global commercial laboratories.
methods using ColdBlock that replace a wide
range of simple digestion methods used in Mining. Some of our customers have reported that digestion
With ColdBlock you get speed and safety, without using ColdBlock, followed by analysis using an ICP-
sacrificing precision, accuracy, or repeatability. MS, results in fast, accurate, repeatable results and has
allowed them to reduce or eliminate their dependance
on fire assay. They report significantly shorter turn-
around times, reduction in lead waste and employee
lead-exposure-testing, and a ~50% reduction in cost
per sample.

For more information, reach out to us by e-mail at

[email protected] or visit us at www.coldblock.ca.
Product Overview
ColdBlock Pro Series features:
■ Available in small, medium or large sample
tube sizes.
■ Scalable design can be combined into a 40/60/80
sample digestion system.
■ Minimal maintenance of less than 5 minutes per
week; stands up rigorous daily use. Available Configurations:
■ Test tubes are borosilicate — Quartz tubes are also
available.
■ Unit comes with digester, controller, borosilicate test
tubes, 2 stands, 2 transfer trays, and a replacement
lamp (4000h).
■ Operated with ColdBlock’s software control system;
create, save, and re-use single or multi-step
digestion programs on a tablet or laptop.

Pro Series Pro Series Pro Series

Small Tubes Medium Tubes Large Tubes
[20 total] [16 total] [12 total]
Laboratory Setup
The ColdBlock Pro Series system integrates
easily into any laboratory, therefore no capital FUMEHOOD

spending is required.
Tablet Interface

System Requirements:
VENTILATION Test Tube Stand Digester Chiller
ColdBlock digesters operate within
a fumehood with a draw of at least
400 cu ft./min.
Controller
COOLING
Connection to a recirculating chiller with
a minimum of 1200W cooling capacity
at 20° Celsius is also required.

ELECTRICAL
The Controller requires a 30 AMP
and 208-240V at 50/60 Hz.

System Configurations
Pro Series Model Small Sample Medium Sample Large Sample
# Samples 20 16 12
# of Tubes Included 40 32 24
Test Tube Diameter 28 mm 36 mm 52 mm
Test Tube Volume 50 ml 125 ml 250 ml
Typical Acid Volume 7-25 ml 16-50 ml 20-160 ml
Typical Sample Size 0.1-2.0g 0.25-5.0g 5-30g
Single Digester Footprint H 33cm x W 24.1cm x L 58.4cm H 34.9cm x W 24.1cm x L 58.4cm H 36.2cm x W 24.1cm x L 58.4cm
Controller H 61cm x W 20.3cm x L 61cm
Chiller H 55.9cm x W 38.1cm x L 66cm
Power Requirement Single Phase 240V and 50/60Hz
Circuit Requirement 30A for single / dual configuration,50A for triple / quadruple configuration
Chiller 1100W chiller with -5 degree capacity
1 chiller per 1-2 digesters
Ventilation Standard vent hood; 400 cu. ft./min.
 ColdBlock’s sample digestion
system is being used in
laboratories across several
industries in locations
around the world.

Let’s Connect!
Learn more about how ColdBlock
can revolutionize your lab!
coldblock.ca/CIM-2024