The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of a reflux system adapted in the digestion tubes in sample preparation of xanthan gum for subsequent determination of Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Na and Zn by using spectrometric techniques. Through the proposed method, the samples were digested with HNO 3 for 3 h in a digester block at 220 °C. The accuracy of the method was evaluated by comparing the results with another sample preparation method and by using recovery tests, which results vary between 83 and 103%. The efficiency of digestion was assessed and significant results were verified through residual carbon values, which were five times lower compared to conventional acid digestion in open system, with use of HNO 3 and HClO 4 . The proposed methodology is a simple and accurate analytical strategy, which does not require the use of special equipment, neither a mixture of strong oxidizing acid in the sample preparation.