This procurement is for a solvent concentrator similar to the buchi syncore analyst R-12. The salient characteristics of this solvent concentrator are: 1) IT is capable of concentrating up to 120 ML…

This federal contract award is for the procurement of a solvent concentrator similar to the Buchi Syncore Analyst R-12. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 awarded this $47,526.00 firm-fixed-price delivery order to Pacific Star Corporation, a minority-owned, self-certified small disadvantaged business located in Houston, Texas. The solvent concentrator must have several key features, including the ability to concentrate up to 120 milliliters of solvent to 1 milliliter volume in each of 12 positions concurrently, use a chiller to improve analyte recovery and solvent recycling, and provide precise vacuum control and temperature/shaking capabilities to enhance evaporation. This order is not associated with any set-aside program and was placed under the General Services Administration (GSA) Scientific Equipment and Services schedule contract. Pacific Star Corporation has a strong track record of supplying a wide range of mission-critical products, including medical equipment and laboratory supplies, to various defense agencies through federal contracts.

This procurement is for a solvent concentrator similar to the buchi syncore analyst R-12. The salient characteristics of this solvent concentrator are: 1) IT is capable of concentrating up to 120 ML solvent to 1 ML volume in each of 12 positions concurrently; 2) IT uses a chiller to: a) cool the tips of the solvent reservoirs to improve volatile analyte recovery and to accommodate concentration of slightly different starting volumes of solvent to constant (1 ML) volume while minimizing analyte loss; B) cool the condensers to recover evaporated solvent for disposal in a liquid waste stream (should achieve 95+% recovery of dichloromethane during routine use); C) cool the reflux module in the upper part of the concentrator vessels, which causes a portion of the evaporated solvent to recondense, thereby rinsing down the glass interiors of the concentrator vessels as the solvent is evaporated in order to improve analyte recovery; 3) IT uses a vacuum pump with a digital controller for precise, programmable control of vacuum level to below 100 mtorr during evaporation to enhance solvent evaporation speed; 4) IT is compatible with reusable glass reservoirs with 1 ML graduated tips for concentration of solvent to precise volume; 5) IT uses a temperature-programmable hot block and shaker to increase temperature and surface area of solvent in order to enhance evaporation speed; 6) the entire unit (vacuum pump, controller, condenser, tubing) is compatible with concentrating organic solvents with chlorinated solvents (e.g., dichloromethane, chloroform), hydrocarbon based solvents (e.g., hexane, toluene), and water soluble solvents (e.g., alcohols).