University of Alberta - Advanced Contract Award Notice / Notice of Proposed Procurement - Anton Paar Multiwave 7501 Microwave Digestion System

ACAN to acquire an Anton Paar Multiwave 7501 Microwave Digestion System The sole source justification is as follows: 1. The Anton Paar Multiwave 7501 offers the highest-powered magnetron (1,700 W delivered) available on the market meaning it can increase temperature and pressure at a rate unmatched by any competing model. It also achieves the highest P-T conditions available on the market (300 °C and 199 bar), matched only by a single, lower-powered competitor (1,500 W delivered). This is particularly important for kinetic experiments, where varying reaction rates can have drastic impacts on geologic, environmental and biologic materials that the IGRF routinely works with. Having the broadest range of reaction rate and P-T conditions available enables the IGRF to conduct cutting-edge kinetic experiments in the themes of biosorption, biomineralization and the rock record. 2. This microwave digestion system features industry leading corrosion resistance to extend the longevity of the instrument and reduce maintenance when routinely using highly corrosive acids, like the IGRF often does. This insert is also replaceable if it does become corroded − a feature not available on any competing platform. 3. All high-performance digestion microwaves include a cooling system to improve their efficiency and safety. The Multiwave 7501 is unique in that this chiller is built-in to the main system rather than an external add-on, which requires additional floor space and plumbing. The IGRF has very limited space where this instrument will reside, and we cannot accommodate a separate chiller. 4. The Multiwave 7501 includes proprietary software-guided steam cleaning protocols to dilute and collects acids droplets and vapors from the digestion cavity prior to any human contact. It is the only system available which offers steam cleaning and has a condensation and collection container in the exhaust line for safe disposal after the automated procedure. These features are critical for ensuring safe, consistent operation among IGRF users. 5. In addition to automated cleaning protocols, the Anton Paar Multiwave 7501 features a fully-automated “liner lift”. This is a mechanism that securely lifts the heavy, acid-filled liner out of the digestion cavity after it has completed the cleaning cycle to further reduce manual handling and accidental spills. Uniquely, the samples are then transported inside this liner to/from the instrument. The liner is protected with a drip cup, and there is no exposure to acid fumes prior to or after the digestion. 6. This system offers additional safety mechanisms that are not available in any other system. The digestion cavity lid includes a microwave trap ensuring no human exposure to radiation. Once a digestion is initiated, the cover is automatically locked, and users cannot access the hot lid until the digestion is completed. 7. Importantly, this digestion system uses a Pressurized Digestion Cavity (PDC) which eliminates the need to “cluster” sample types or consider different reaction rates. This system is capable of simultaneously digesting a biologic, microplastic and geologic sample in a single run, significantly enhancing its versatility, user friendliness and sample throughput compared with the vast majority of microwave digestion system available. Only one competing system offers this capability, however it lacks all other key features listed here.