Awarded RFQ - Microwave Digestion System

The National Physical Laboratory [NPL] requirement is for a bench-top microwave digestion system that can perform automated digestion of primarily air quality samples, but with the versatility to digest a wide range of sample types.

The air quality samples are collected in the form of particulate matter ≤ 10 µm diameter (PM10) sampled onto cellulose filter papers. These must be digested in compliance with the BS EN 14902 standard. Other sample types of potential interest for future work include other environmental matrices, pharmaceuticals, and food. The system must have the potential to use HF, but it is understood that this usually requires purchase of additional vessel assemblies.

The microwave must be programmable for automated digestion runs of different temperatures and pressures, within the specification below.

The microwave system and accessories must be well engineered for robustness and reliable digestion of samples without the need for frequent replacement of expensive parts/consumables such as vessel components.