Milestone ETHOS LEAN, EASY, UP, and PLUS microwave labstations
ETHOS EASY, UP, and PLUS – new for 2026
The three new microwave labstations fully embody Milestone’s philosophy in microwave sample preparation. Specifically designed for closed vessel acid digestion, they offer a perfect integration between microwave hardware, user interface, reaction sensors and pressure vessels.
With a comprehensive choice of accessories, they additionally offer a complete first-class solution for microwave solvent extraction, organic and inorganic synthesis, protein hydrolysis, ashing, and vacuum evaporation.
Completely new design
The ETHOS EASY, UP, and PLUS systems have a microwave cavity in excess of 70 litres, the largest currently available. This enables digestion and extraction rotors with more sample places for improved laboratory throughput. Equipped with dual 950 Watt magnetrons the systems can operate at up to 1900 Watt. Additionally, a rotating diffuser evenly distributes the microwaves throughout the cavity enabling very fast heating and the complete digestion and extraction of the most difficult samples.
Features
- Reliable and durable hardware with stainless steel cavity & corrosion-resistant coating
- Flexible rotor options including acid digestion, solvent extraction, ashing, and evaporation
- User-friendly interface with hundreds of preloaded methods
- Easy and fast handling with unique vessel design construction.
Rotors
A number of rotors offering high quality digestion and high sample throughput are available for both systems. The SK-15 is a high-pressure rotor featuring up to 15 vessels, the MAXI-44 is a medium pressure high-throughput rotor featuring up to 44 vessels. The MAXI-24HP is a both a high performance and high throughput rotor with a capacity up to 24 vessels. Additional rotor options are available for evaporation, ashing, protein hydrolysis. Highest safety is ensured with a series of reaction sensors.
User interfaces
The three control terminals have an easy-to-read, bright, full-colour, touchscreen display and offer different capabilities so all laboratory requirements can be met including connection to a balance through to the latest Milestone AI Agent (MAIA). They run an icon-driven, multi-language software to provide easy control of the microwave run. Simply recall a previously stored method or create a new one, press ‘START’ and the system will automatically follow the user defined temperature utilising a sophisticated PID algorithm. Hundreds of applications, including all US EPA methods, are already preloaded. There is no need to input the number of samples or weights being digested, as the software will automatically regulate the microwave power accordingly. This ensures a consistent quality of the process and simplifies the use of the instrument.
Milestone Connect
Included with all the systems is a unique web based application – Milestone Connect. The app provides up to date information and extended instrument monitoring from outside the laboratory of every sample in the digestion run that ultimately helps to provide high quality sample preparation. The app works on various external devices such as PC, tablets or smartphones. The integral database includes specific and detailed information on the installed equipment (list of parts, technical notes, user manual, video tutorials, etc), continuously updated application notes, a library of available scientific articles published in scientific magazines, and a help-on-line section that provides instant support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Safety
In conjunction with the safety aspects incorporated into the rotors and vessels, the systems feature a full stainless steel door with an innovative opening and self-resealing mechanism. Should there be a sudden over pressurisation of the cavity, the door slightly opens for rapid and safe pressure release and the microwave power is instantaneously cut off. Immediately after, the door is pulled back, resealing the cavity. For additional safety, an automatic door locking system does not allow the user to open the door during the microwave run. At the end of the run, the door remains locked until the solutions have cooled down to a user preset temperature. This prevents misuse of the instrument and in turn exposure of the chemist to high pressure vessels.
ETHOS LEAN – new for 2026
The ETHOS LEAN has been specifically designed to provide high-quality closed-vessel acid digestion and extraction. The process is controlled via EasyTEMP infrared sensor that monitors the temperature in each vessel ensuring reproducible results.
The system features reliable hardware, made completely of stainless steel with a corrosion-resistant coating to ensure long durability. An intuitive, icon-driven user interface is included with hundreds of preloaded methods with advanced reaction control that ensures high digestion and extraction quality.
Features
- Reliable and durable hardware with stainless steel cavity & corrosion-resistant coating
- Flexible rotor options with advanced reaction control for high digestion quality
- Compact and economical taking almost half of the conventional microwave footprint.
- User-friendly interface with hundreds of preloaded methods
- Easy and fast handling with unique vessel design construction.
Rotors
The MAXI-14 rotor has a capacity of 14 large volume PTFE-TFM vessels. It is suitable for digestion of a wide range of samples including environmental and organic samples such as soils, sediments, wastewater, and beverages. The unique construction simplifies the rotor handling with fast and trouble-free vessel assembly.
The MAXI-14HP high performance rotor has a capacity of 14 large volume PTFE-TFM vessels and is built to withstand higher temperatures and pressures that ensures efficient digestion of more demanding samples such as food, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals.
The SK-6 rotor has 6 high capacity vessels designed for the toughest applications and is ideal for digestion of reactive samples, difficult to digest matrices, and large sample sizes.
User interface
The ETHOS LEAN uses the same control terminal as the Ethos EASY with an easy-to-read, bright, full-colour, touchscreen display. It runs an icon-driven, multi-language software that is fully compliant with CFR 21 part 11. Simply recall a previously stored method or create a new one, press ‘START’ and the system will automatically follow the user defined temperature.
Hundreds of applications, including all US EPA methods, are already preloaded. There is no need to input the number of samples or weights being digested, as the software will automatically regulate the microwave power accordingly. This ensures a consistent quality of digestion and simplifies the use of the instrument.
Milestone Connect
The Ethos LEAN includes Milestone Connect, a web based application that provides up to date information and extended instrument monitoring from outside the laboratory of every sample in the digestion run that ultimately helps to provide high quality sample preparation.
The app works on various external devices such as PC, tablets or smartphones. The integral database includes specific and detailed information on the installed equipment (list of parts, technical notes, user manual, video tutorials, etc), continuously updated application notes, a library of available scientific articles published in scientific magazines, and a help-on-line section that provides instant support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Safety
In conjunction with the safety aspects incorporated into the rotor and vessels, the Ethos LEAN features a full stainless steel door with an innovative opening and self-resealing mechanism. Should there be a sudden over pressurisation of the cavity, the door slightly opens for rapid and safe pressure release and the microwave power is instantaneously cut off. Immediately after, the door is pulled back, resealing the cavity. For additional safety, an automatic door locking system does not allow the user to open the door during the microwave run. At the end of the run, the door remains locked until the solutions have cooled down to a user preset temperature. This prevents misuse of the instrument and in turn exposure of the chemist to high pressure vessels.
Industry report – Elemental analysis in food laboratories
Demand for trace metals analysis in the food industry is continually growing due to stricter food regulations. ICP has been the standard for metals analysis for food, but as demand for lower levels of detection grows, the industry is experiencing a significant transition to ICPMS. This transition is placing increased emphasis on the sample preparation method.
An industry report on sample preparation of food samples is available that provides information on recovery data for certified reference food materials using the ETHOS labstation and MAXI-24 HP rotor.