This work proposes the use of factorial design for optimization of microwave-assisted digestion of lubricating oil. The accuracy of digestion procedures is affected by critical experimental parameters, such as sample amount, concentrated acid volumes, microwave radiation applied power, and digestion time. The effects of these key variables on the microwave-assisted digestion efficiency were investigated. The residual carbon content and the acidity were determined in all digestates after microwave-assisted digestion as response of the factorial design. Calcium, Cu, Mg, P, S, and Zn were determined in oil digestates obtained by using two systems: a cavity- and a focused-oven. The accuracy was checked using one standard reference material, NIST SRM 1848 - Lubricating Oil Additive Package. All determined and certified values are in agreement at a 95% confidence level. The digestion time, microwave applied power, sample mass, and the interaction between these variables were significant according to P-values when the analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used.
factorial design; microwave-assisted digestion; lubricating oil; metals
