Statement of Requirement (Revised 2.24.22).pdf

Statement of Requirement (Revised 2/24/22)

Title: Breakthrough Instrument

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Facility for Adsorbent Characterization and

Testing (FACT Lab) was built with support from the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-

E) of the U.S. Department of Energy. The FACT Lab aims to serve the sorbent materials research community as an impartial source for testing and characterization of sorbent materials, and by establishing reference materials and testing procedures. The FACT Lab seeks to contribute to the NIST air capture and carbon dioxide removal research effort by developing standard measurement procedures and reference data using reference materials. This enterprise will require new capabilities and leverage existing infrastructure. Toward developing new capabilities, the FACT Lab requires the acquisition of a breakthrough instrument in FY21. A breakthrough instrument allows for the evaluation of differential adsorption properties of a porous material under dynamic conditions. Breakthrough data are especially useful for evaluating and selecting industrial sorbents. The FACT Lab currently does not have this capability. The FACT lab needs the breakthrough instrument to be able to monitor the uptake of two or more gases with the capability to investigate the effects of water vapor, uptake of which often competes the adsorption of polar gases. The instrument shall be equipped with a high-vacuum pump, good temperature and pressure control, mass flow controllers, and a mass spectrometer. In addition to breakthrough curves, the instrument shall be able to perform pressure swing and temperature swing adsorption.

II. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

The contractor shall deliver a breakthrough instrument that meets the following requirements and specifications:

Sealing materials: compatible with carbon dioxide, nitrogen, methane, and water

Pressure range: 0 to at least 30 bars

Maximum temperature: at least 400 °C

Number of gas ports: at least 4 inlets with 4 mass flow controllers

Vapor capability: must be capable of performing measurements with at least 1 vapor (e.g. water)

Number of columns: at least 3 columns, with 2 Interchangeable columns: one for small sample size (≈

100-200 mg) and one for large sample size (≈500 mg -2 g) vacuum pump: turbo molecular pump backed with a rough pump to achieve vacuum level of at least

10^-6 mbar. Instrument must be able to perform in-situ sample activation with turbo pump

Mass spectrometer (MS): detector sensitivity: 1-200 amu, at least 100 ppb sensitivity

Other measurement capabilities: In addition to breakthrough experiments with multiple gases and at least one vapor, the instrument must be able to perform pressure swing adsorption and temperature swing adsorption experiments.

PC compatible with instrument and accessories and all software installed and ready to use. Software must have the ability to display and process data (i.e. breakthrough curve, determine adsorbed gas amount from breakthrough curve), be fully integrated with mass spectrometer, vacuum pumps, and temperature and pressure controllers.

Installation and training: The Contractor shall provide onsite installation, which shall be accomplished at the FACT lab at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD within 14 calendar days of instrument delivery to NIST

Gaithersburg, MD. The Contractor shall also provide one on-site training at NIST Gaithersburg, MD for two NIST scientists on how to use instrument, MS detector and accessories, along with a demonstration of a CO2/N2 breakthrough measurement with sample, and data processing and analysis within 14 calendar days of instrument delivery. Installation and training shall take place during normal duty hours, which are defined as Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard time (EST) except for Federal holidays.

Initial Warranty: The Contractor shall provide a one-year warranty on all parts and labor for instruments and accessories. Repairs shall be performed on-site at NIST, Gaithersburg, MD. If parts are replaced, manufacturer shall retrieve old parts being replaced.

OPTIONS: The Contractor shall provide Extended Warranty for 2 additional years in one-year increments, after initial one-year warranty expires.

III. DELIVERY

Delivery shall be FOB DESTINATION and shall occur within 180 calendar days after award to NIST, Gaithersburg, MD.

IV. DELIVERABLES

Description Quantity Due Date

Entirety of breakthrough instrument, mass spectrometer detector, along with accessories (i.e., PC, vacuum pumps, temperature, and pressure controllers) shipped and received by TPOC at NIST Gaithersburg, MD.

1 180 calendar days after award of this requirement.

On-site installation of instrument and accessories (see above for details) at NIST Gaithersburg, MD campus.

1 Within 14 calendar days after delivery of instrument and accessories

On-site training at NIST Gaithersburg, MD for two

NIST scientists to include:

1) How to use breakthrough instrument, detector, and all accessories

2) Demonstration of instrument performance with a breakthrough run with sample

3) How to retrieve, process, and analyze data

1 Within 14 calendar days after delivery of instrument and accessories

V. ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

Inspection and acceptance will be performed by the NIST TPOC after the instrument is delivered and the

NIST TPOC is trained on the instrument to verify that the instrument meets specifications.