What is digestion in the context of wastewater analysis?

Digestion in the context of wastewater analysis refers to the process of decomposing a sample typically using high heat and acidic conditions. This technique is essential for breaking down complex organic compounds and facilitating the release of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, from the sample. It prepares the sample for further analysis, often aimed at determining concentrations of various substances like total nitrogen or total phosphorus.

This method ensures that all forms of these nutrients are converted into measurable forms, allowing for more accurate quantification when performing subsequent analyses, such as colorimetric tests. By employing high heat and acids, the digestion process also helps to eliminate interferences that might distort analytical results, thereby enhancing the precision of the wastewater analysis.