Provision of Bench Top Grinders for Processing of Environmental Samples

Tender description

Public Health England (PHE) is seeking to procure Bench Top Grinders for Processing of Environmental Samples for its Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards (CRCE). The Radiochemistry Group (RG) at CRCE Radiation Hazards and Emergencies Department (RHED) is PHE's lead group in the radioanalysis of environmental samples (foodstuffs, waters, air and other environmental indicator matrices). It undertakes a range of tasks, principally maintaining an effective emergency response capability to provide front line analysis of samples arising from a radiation contamination incident or accident. The current equipment and methodology no longer support the requirements due to increasing sample sizes and cross contamination concerns. The motorised bench top grinders must be able to mix and homogenize dry and wet solids (such as soils, sediments, concrete), powders, suspension and pastes even with high viscosity and cover a range of environmental samples (soils and sediments, foodstuffs, waters, and other environmental indicator matrices) and industrial materials (concrete, stone, clinker etc). The grinders must be bench top units and must: - be able to support reproducible sample preparation of analytical fineness. - Be designed to ensure all sample is processed - Have easily interchangeable mortars and pestles, with an option of types of grinding tools including stainless steel, hardened steel and hard porcelain M - be easy to clean and undertake basic maintenance in-house. - Have enclosed, dust-tight, grinding chamber during operation - Have controllable speed and pressure settings - Operate of a single phase, 240V power supply , preferably though a standard 13A socket. - Have a grinding capacity of at least 500 mL , with an ability to hold samples of greater than 150 mL - Produce a final product of