PRA_2022_58 (2022-2024): The project aims at developing and optimising new applications of microwave (MW) irradiation for the treatment of complex samples, exploiting the specificity of MW heating mechanism, which allows a high reaction efficiency while reducing processing time. The project exploiting MW heating to develop and optimise different protocols to treat extremely complex matrices, for the extraction, hydrolysis, and recovery of specific analytes or high value products. In particular, we will treat matrices such as soil and water samples for the analysis of persistent organic pollutants, contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), microplastics and microfibers; biopolymers for the detection of amino acids, monosaccharides and fatty acids; plant biomass for the extraction of lignin and high value products, and poultry feathers for the recovery of keratin