Attachment A - Statement of Work for a Nickel Purification System dated May 15 2026.pdf

Statement of Work Automated Nickel Purification System

Dated May 15, 2026

Introduction This document sets forth the Statement of Work (SOW) for the Automated Nickel Purification System to be provided to UT-Battelle, LLC, the managing and operating contractor for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL, Company), pursuant to a contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Stage 1 Chromatographic Purification.

A Ni+2 solution is applied to the top of a chromatography column using a (miniature) peristaltic pump. The reagent stream being applied to the column is non-invasive monitored by means of an external optical sensor capable of detecting the leading and trailing edges of the addition stream, which ensures that the entire volume of reagent is added to the column. The column itself is developed by gravity. After addition and absorption of the reagent, a second peristaltic pump adds an elution solvent to the top of the column. Optionally, a non-invasive, fiber option liquid level sensor can be added to the top of column, at the height of the bed packing, to monitor the level of solvent above the bed packing. This option allows the user to verify the height of the solvent head above the bed packing. The addition of elution solvent continues until all of the desired product is eluted from the column.

The eluent from the column is monitored by an Ocean Optics UV/V is spectrometer for the presence of nickel.

When nickel is not present, the effluent is sent to waste through a 100% Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) 3-way solenoid valve. When nickel is detected, the effluent is automatically sent to a glass electroplating chamber by means of a peristaltic pump.

The user will be able to specify the concentration of nickel that causes the system to stop sending column effluent to waste and transfer it to the electroplating chamber.

Equipment included in this step.

* Glass chromatography column – Supplied by user.

* Glass and Teflon syringe pump to add Ni+2 solution in 6M Hydrochloric Acid (HCl)

* Wash solvent addition pump – Either an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) peristaltic pump or syringe pump, to be determined with future testing.

* Optical sensor attached to the inlet line to determine when the reagent and all solvents have been added, without introducing air into the column.

* Ocean Optics UV/V is spectrometer with flow through optical cell. Spectrometer and cell provided by the user. Software interface and control logic provided by Seller.;

* Three-way Teflon solenoid valve on the outlet of the column with the ability to direct column eluent to either waste of an electroplating vessel (Step 2) under program control.

* If the outlet of the column can be configured to directly empty into the electroplating vessel, that is the best option, if not, then a peristaltic pump will be provided to transfer the effluent from the column into the plating chamber.

* All tubing and fittings, where possible, will be made of Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) / Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP).

* Optional fiber optic fluid level sensor at the top of the bed packing.

Stage 2 Electroplating

Vertical Backplane

Linear will mount all system rail components, pumps, valves

Fluid connections Cathode to acid, base, solvent addition Anode pumps

Teflon lid

Oxidation Reduction Chamber Chamber

Linear rail

At the end of the reduction step, the lid is retracted.

The linear rail moves the oxidation chamber under the electrodes

Oxidation Reduction Oxidation Reduction

Chamber Chamber Chamber Chamber

Linear rail Linear rail

The electrodes are placed into the oxidation chamber

Oxidation Reduction Chamber Chamber

Linear rail

The reactor lid will provide

1) Finger tight fittings to secure the electrodes in position.

2) Fluid connector, compatible with 8M HNO3 and 30% NH4OH (preferable PFA/FEP), through which the appropriate solvents for the reduction and oxidation steps can be provided.

3) The ‘lid module’ can be lifted as a single unit and transferred to the oxidation chamber. The design of the lid and the transfer mechanisms will be designed to ensure that no fluid (drops) can be transferred from one chamber to another.

4) A provision can be added to wash the probes and the inner walls of each of the chambers with a desired solvent.

The electrodes and fluid connector can be easily removed from the lid for cleaning if desired.

The portion of the chromatographic eluent that was pumped into the electroplating chamber is diluted and then (optionally) magnetically stirred. Under program control, 12 Volts Direct Current (Vdc) is applied to the electrode to plate nickel ion to nickel metal (solid). The current used during the reduction is monitored. The endpoint of the reduction is determined based on a user set current value or change in the slope of current output.

* All of the motion components, including the linear and vertical rails, power supplies and all control electronics.

* Glass reactors from Ace or ChemGlass.

* The Teflon lid with it assorted fluid and electrode fittings.

* Electrochemistry power supply selected with the user’s approval. Key features will be a low-profile design and safety limits, including a maximum possible voltage that will not exceed 50 Vdc.

* Current regulation and monitoring equipment.

* Waste container, used to receive waste streams from the various reduction/oxidation, and wash steps.

Stage 3 Dissolution/Oxidation

At the end of the reduction step, the electrodes are washed and then positioned into a new, clean electrolysis chamber. To the chamber is added a user specified volume of acid and then the polarity of the electrodes are reversed causing the solid nickel metal to oxidize and go back into solution as a soluble Ni+2 species. The endpoint of the oxidation is determined based on a user set current value or change in the slope of current output.

Stage 4 Drying

The oxidized nickel metal is quantitatively transferred from the oxidation chamber to a new glass chamber.

This chamber fits inside of a heated aluminum base. The heated base sits on top of the pan of a Mettler balance with 0.001 g resolution.

The balance weighs the weight of nickel solution transferred into the flask. Based on the weight transferred, a user specified weight of a co-solution (oxalic acid) is added. The heater is turned on and it’s temperature is regulated by means of a Proportional-Integrated-Derivative (PID) temperature controller. Weight loss due to evaporation is monitored. The end point of the drying step is determined by the rate of weight loss.

Optionally, a magnetic stirrer can be added to this system.

* User selected glass reactor.

* Heated aluminum receptacle to fit a user selected glass reactor. Heaters and temperature sensors are built into the block.

* Temperature controller and power components.

* Mettler balance with serial communications and 0.001 g resolution.

* Optionally, a low-profile magnetic stirrer

* Peristaltic pump system to transfer all of the oxidized Ni solution to the drying chamber.

General Controls

The user interface will be written to the user’s specification. Seller will provide the operating software written in

Microsoft’s’ Visual Studio. The Seller must provide a copy of the original source code.

If feasible, the entire instrument will be built on to an aluminum back panel with stations mounted to the back panel.

This will depend on the nature of any corrosive vapors emitted by the instrument.

Includes a built in Windows PC. This PC can be placed on the Company network, but as a dedicated instrument

PC, it is advised not to connect to the Company network.

Features

* Outstanding Positional Accuracy: Resolution of 0.03mm in both the X- and Y-dimensions insures reliable pickup and placement in workstation procedures.

* Complete Integration with Microsoft Office: Read and write directly to Excel.

* Open Source Software: Seller provides the original software written for your application.

* Seller’s Complete Driver Library: Allows adding third party modules like balances, bar code scanner, and temperature controlled equipment to the robotic procedure.

Software

Every Seller’s workstation is supplied with the original workstation code. The Eclipse workstation uses Supplier’s graphical Windows® user interface written in Microsoft’s Visual Basic.NET. The graphical interface provides researchers complete control of the software running their workstation by allowing even non-programmers a simple way to modify the current procedure or write entirely new procedures. Every action of the workstation can be modified by using the software’s intuitive command set.

An example of the graphical interface command set is:

Pump.Dispense(1, 110.0) Dispense 110.0 ml from Pump 1.

Status() Return the status of all instruments in the system and records to

Excel.

Controller.SP(120.0) Set the setpoint temperature of the controller to 120 C.

UV(365) Queries the absorbance of the UV spectrometer at 365 nm.

Oxidation.MoveTo() Move the electrodes top module to the oxidation chamber.

Seller also supplies the protocol to directly communicate with the Infinity Robotic Controller. By directly addressing the robotic controller, sophisticated users can eliminate the need for a PC or run the robot via an intranet, Unix, or Macintosh connection.

Production Timetable Workstation construction must be completed within two (2) months following approval of workstation design by the Company’s TPO. Modifications to the workstation design or programming after design approval may delay delivery and add additional charges to the workstation. Approval of the workstation protocol must be received from the Company’s TPO at least 30 days prior to project completion.

Bill of Materials The actual bill of materials may change during instrument design and testing stages, but all reasonably significant changes will be submitted for approval to the Company’s Technical Project Officer

(TPO).

Item Source Comment Peristaltic Pumps, Stepper motor driven

Kamoer, #KPHM400-ST.

Kamoer Industries.

Head with precision stepper motor.

Stepper motor driver is a Duet-2-Wifi multi-axis stepper motor driver.

6-8 pump depending on final design.

The Duet-2-Wifi motor driver is available from multiple sources

Peristaltic Tubing ChemDurance-CE high stability peristaltic pump tubing. Acid/base stable.

https://www.vwr.com/us/en/product/NA5143623/masterflex-l-s-precision-pump-tubing-chem-durance-bio-avantor

Multiple sources

Flow rate optical sensors

Optek / TT Electronics. OPB350 series Mouser Electronics

Used in chromatography step.

Fiber optic fluid level sensor

Light amplifier/detector: Panasonic, FX-505-C2 Fiber optic light cables: Panasonic FT-R43

Used in chromatography step.

Solenoid Valves Low flow valves (<500 ml/min) will be Clippard PFA valves.

https://www.clippard.com/products/isolation-valves High flow valves (>500 ml/min) from White Knight.

https://wkfluidhandling.com/products/valves/solenoid-valves/ M223W2DFS-HV-132 series

Positioning system for Oxidation/Reduction step

Linear rail to position reaction chambers.

Length of the slide to be determined.

SMC Linear ball screw slides and companion controller https://www.smcusa.com/products/lefs-slider-type-ball-screw-drive-battery-less-absolute-encoder~164708

Vertical linear rail to position or remove the electrodes for the reaction chambers.

Length of the slide to be determined.

SMC Linear ball screw slides and companion controller https://www.smcusa.com/products/lefs-slider-type-ball-screw-drive-battery-less-absolute-encoder~164708

Reaction Chambers Glass reaction chambers selected with Company’s assistance.

Source will be ChemGlass or Ace Glass.

Teflon Lid Made in-house from stock PFA-Teflon

Electrochemical controller

Electrochemical controller will be make in-house at the Seller’s facility. Controller monitors the current flow into the reduction/oxidation chambers to determine end points.

Carbon Electrodes To be specified by Company.

Power supply To be selected in collaboration with Company.

Evaporation flask Glass flask selected with Company assistance. Source will be ChemGlass or Ace Glass.

Evaporation chamber

Aluminum chamber to fit a glass evaporation flask.

Aluminum chamber is made in-house at the Seller’s facility. Heater includes embedded fire-rod heaters.

Maximum temperature of 180 C (higher or lower limits available)

Temperature controller

Model 210-T For evaporation step

Magnetic stirrer IKA low profile stirrer, or similar https://selectumllc.com/i/ika- 0003907500?bing=1&msclkid=7a042544e022198cf3ed4f648a10ba45

For evaporation step https://www.vwr.com/us/en/product/NA5143623/masterflex-l-s-precision-pump-tubing-chem-durance-bio-avantor https://www.vwr.com/us/en/product/NA5143623/masterflex-l-s-precision-pump-tubing-chem-durance-bio-avantor https://www.clippard.com/products/isolation-valves https://wkfluidhandling.com/products/valves/solenoid-valves/ https://wkfluidhandling.com/products/valves/solenoid-valves/ https://www.smcusa.com/products/lefs-slider-type-ball-screw-drive-battery-less-absolute-encoder%7E164708 https://www.smcusa.com/products/lefs-slider-type-ball-screw-drive-battery-less-absolute-encoder%7E164708 https://www.smcusa.com/products/lefs-slider-type-ball-screw-drive-battery-less-absolute-encoder%7E164708 https://www.smcusa.com/products/lefs-slider-type-ball-screw-drive-battery-less-absolute-encoder%7E164708 https://www.smcusa.com/products/lefs-slider-type-ball-screw-drive-battery-less-absolute-encoder%7E164708 https://www.smcusa.com/products/lefs-slider-type-ball-screw-drive-battery-less-absolute-encoder%7E164708 https://selectumllc.com/i/ika-https://selectumllc.com/i/ika-

Analytical Balance Ohaus (Mettler) NV3202 or similar (depending on the weight of the heating block).

Maximum weight of 3.2 KG.

Analytical balance with 0.01 g resolution.

Serial communications module added for communications to the PC.

For evaporation step

PC Desktop or laptop PC.

Selected with Company input.

Includes all other needed electronic components to fully automate the purification of Nickel metals.

Operational Limitations

Seller does not warranty the chemical or physical compatibility of the workstation or the materials of its construction with reagents that are not disclosed to Seller at the time of quotation or prior to installation. For example, a Teflon solenoid valve used to dispense organic reagents is not compatible with dispensing fuming nitric acid. In some cases it may be necessary to modify the operating characteristics of the workstation after installation due to the physical or chemical nature of the materials manipulated by the workstation. The Company is responsible for the cost of any needed modifications. For example, if an item weighted by the workstation generated static electricity, it would be necessary to add a deionization source to the balance chamber.

Instrument Warranty

All electronic components, including the robotic driver board, microprocessor and sensors, assembled or manufactured by Seller are warranted for one (1) year. Other manufactures equipment purchased by

Seller and affixed to the workstation deck, such as vortexers, bar code scanners, and balances carry the original manufactures warranty. Needles, pipette tips, and other fluid components that make contact with reagents or workstation samples are warranted for 60 days except in cases of misuse which voids the warranty. Motors are warranted for one (1) year. The warranty on any item is void if it is abused, damaged by mechanical contact, or used in a way that exceeds its original design specification.