STATEMENT OF WORK.pdf

Ion Chromatograph System Statement of Work

Date Required Preferably by January 31, 2023

Deliver to:

USDA-ALARC

Attn: Clinton Williams 21881 N. Cardon Lane Maricopa, AZ 85138

Ion Chromatograph System Basic Description:

A modular ion chromatograph system consisting of a pump, conductivity detector, conductivity cell, degas assembly, column compartment, column heater, suppressor, injector, autosampler, columns and instrument controller is required. The ion chromatograph system must have, 1) inert, non-metallic PEEK (polyether ether ketone) fluidic components throughout the system to ensure solvent compatibility, corrosion resistance, and metal contamination-free chromatography; 2) availability of replacement PEEK tubing assemblies with zero-dead-volume face-seal design, optimized lengths, and options for tubing i.d.; 3) the ability to perform gradients with electrolytic eluent generation using an eluent generator; 4) suppressors capable of continuous operation in constant-current and constant-voltage modes with suppressor regeneration carried out electrolytically; 5) an autosampler that a) utilizes nonmetallic fluidic path components to reduce contamination, eliminate corrosion, and is acid- and base-resistant and b) has large loop/small loop injection capabilities controlled by a data system; 6) a conductivity detector with advanced single-range digital output with operating range to 18,000 µS/cm full-scale and single-range analog signal output to 18,000 µS/cm; 7) a leak sensor for laboratory safety and management; 8) a built-in vacuum degas assembly providing a) in-line degassing of eluents to ensure reproducibility and protection of eluents from contamination and decomposition and b) an automated control system that senses when degassing is required; 9) a system that meets the requirements of EPA Method 300.1 Part A and Part B; and 10) mass spectrometer compatibility for ion chromatography-mass spectrometry (IC- MS) analyses.

Minimum Acceptable Specification and Performance Requirements:

PUMPING SYSTEM – A dual piston serial design pump must be made of nonmetallic material and must be consistent with industry standards to include precision, accuracy, ripple, maximum flow rate, maximum pressure, and gradient proportioning accuracy. The pumping system must be a low-pressure mixing isocratic design with an integrated vacuum degasser and be capable of incorporating up to two independent pumping systems that can support an unlimited number of linear, convex, concave, or inverse eluent gradient profiles.

ELECTROLYTIC ELUENT GENERATION – an electrolytic eluent generator is required to generate and purify eluent of varied concentrations using an applied current which allows gradient formations without the use of extra pumps, fittings, or valves. The eluent generator must be able to produce an unlimited number of linear, convex, concave, or inverse gradient profiles, and concentration increments must be as low as 0.01 mmol/L which is required to optimize chromatographic peak resolution and optimize separation time.

CHROMATOGRAPHY DETECTOR – a chromatography detector compartment must contain and organize chromatography components such as valves and columns. Distinct sections for separation, detection, and automation are required to minimize connection lengths, and improve peak efficiencies. Separation, detection, and automation sections must all be thermally controlled and be consistent with industry standards for precision, accuracy, and stability. The separation section must be configurable to hold two valves that can be either injection or column switching valves. The detection section must be able to house up to two detectors, either conductivity (with or without suppressors) and/or electrochemical.

Detectors must be able to operate in series or separately and be automatically detectable by software.

The automation manager (analytical only) must house up to two high-pressure valves, 6- or 10-port, up to two inert low-pressure valves, 2 or 3 way, up to two reaction coils, dual loops for preconcentration, and must be field upgradable. The ion chromatograph must contain a 6-port injection valve, eluent generator degasser, capillary guard and separator, capillary electrolytic suppressor, capillary carbonate removal device, and a capillary column heater controllable from 15 to 85 C. Inert, non-metallic PEEK (polyether ether ketone) fluidic components must be used throughout the chromatography detector compartment, and leak sensors must be included. The system must include upgradeable capacity for 1) a consumable monitoring device to provide identification, monitoring, and history of consumable usage for up to 25 consumables simultaneously and 2) an analog out with two 24V relays, 2 TTL out, 8 TTL inputs must be available to allow third party software control and data collection.

CONDUCTIVITY DETECTOR - A conductivity detector must 1) be capable of operating in the suppressed or unsuppressed mode; 2) allow for chemically inert advanced single-range digital output with operating range from 0 to 15000 µS/cm full-scale and single-range analog signal output from 0 to 15000 µS/cm;

and 3) be compatible with MSA.

ELECTROCHEMICAL DETECTOR – An electrochemical detector must 1) be capable of operating in an integrated amperometry, pulsed amperometry, DC amperometry mode, or cyclovoltammetry; 2) have infinite waveforms and infinite integration times that must be supported to optimize detection conditions for individual analytes; 3) be auto ranging; 4) have disposable cell electrodes available in the following options: gold, silver, platinum, and glassy carbon; 5) have a reference electrode that is a pH- Ag/AgCl combination one piece design (analytical) or Palladium Hydrogen (PdH) one piece design (capillary); and 6) be able to display three-dimensional data similar to PDA data display in conjunction with software.

VARIABLE WAVELENGTH DETECTOR - A variable wavelength detector is required for analytes that have a chromophore. The detector must 1) be a dual beam forward optics for single or multiple wavelength (4 channel) UV/VIS options; 2) contain both a deuterium lamp for UV range and Tungsten lamp for visible range; 3) have a wavelength range of 190-900nm settable in 1nm increments, with an accuracy of 1nm; 4) be a digital auto ranging detector with a data collection rate of up to 100Hz; and 5) have a flow cell composed of PEEK to prevent corrosion and increase durability.

SYSYEM SUPPRESSION – a low-maintenance suppression system is required to reduce the background conductivity, enhance the conductance of the analyte of interest, and remove the counter ion resulting in an increased signal. The suppression device must 1) have the capacity to perform gradients or isocratic runs without changing the device; 2) use electrolytic suppression of eluent for analyses rather than using sulfuric acid as a regenerant; 3) operate continuously without the need to switch motors and be a single membrane-based ion exchanger; and 4) be able to suppress carbonate, hydroxide, or methane sulfonic acid eluents as required for EPA, ASTM, ISO, or other standardized methods.

SEPARATION COLUMN - a column set must be 1) comprised of a nonmetallic body and an inert packing material capable of withstanding at least 3000 psi; 2) composed of a separator and precolumn; and 3) packed with either the same column packing material or a packing material that is a complementary polymeric resin. The column must assist with functional separation, prevent separator column contamination, and have a minimum 5:1 ratio of column resin separator column/precolumn.

AUTOSAMPLER – an autosampler must 1) provide an unattended method of delivering samples to the chromatograph; 2) utilize nonmetallic fluidic path components to reduce potential sources of contamination, eliminate corrosion, and be acid and base resistant; 3) use compatible vials composed of polymeric material and have the ability to seal the sample from the atmosphere to reduce contamination; 4) be capable of performing full-loop and partial-loop injections; 5) have optional software and hardware capability to analyze and automatically re-inject samples which exceed specified, user-selectable parameters such as peak area, peak height and amount; 6) provide a method that includes data system selection of a smaller loop, reduced direct injection volume (“partial loop” injection) or true “vial to vial” sample dilution; 7) have an all PEEK flow path and be compatible with aqueous and reversed-phase solvents; 8) be capable of simultaneous or sequential injection; 9) be capable of performing dilutions without additional hardware; 10) have the capacity to accommodate

(81) 10mL vials, (120) 1.5mL vials, or (3X96 or 3X384) well plates; 11) be capable of using polystyrene, polypropylene, or glass vials; 12) be configurable in either push or pull injection mode; 13) have the capacity to modify a run sequence anywhere within the run without interrupting analysis; 14) be capable of at least 1-99 injections per vial; 15) be capable of sampling a minimum volume of 10 µL from a 300 µL micro vial or 20 µL from a 500 µL micro vial; and 16) have a variable volume range of 1-100 µL in 0.1 µL increments or 100-7500 µL in 1 µL increments.

Software - software must 1) be a 64-bit application for future upgradeability; 2) be able to provide fully automatic control of the process of analyzing samples; 3) include acquiring data, quantitation, report production, and the option to upgrade to an incorporated excel-like spreadsheet for report flexibility; 4) be able to automate integration updates without time-consuming batch reprocessing of changes to an integration in a data set; 5) allow real time integration monitoring in order for an instrument operator to monitor real time progress; 6) have the ability to customize report formats and content; 7) include self-diagnostic functions; 8) be able to control and acquire data from third party instrumentation including but not limited to chromatography pumps, detectors, and autosamplers; 9) have an option to predict column separations without additional experiments; 10) provide an integrated trending option; and 11) generate standard curves using a variety of curve fitting routines, i.e., must be able to a) select curves with up to 5-point calibration curves; b) select linear, quadratic, or cubic fit curves; c) use weighing options for the calibration calculations; and d) calculate the confidence intervals at different confidence levels.

WARRANTY – for onsite repairs during the warranty period, the following must be covered 1) all labor, parts, and travel charges. Remote trouble shooting and support must be provided during the warranty period. An official company warranty statement must be included with the bid and must also be stated in the ion chromatograph operator’s manual.