National Materials Laboratory proposal

National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. Source Book of Reference Methods, Materials, and Related Information for the Clinical Laboratory Proposed Guideline. NCCLS Document NRSCL12-P. Wayne, PA National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards, 1994. 

An important step towards identification of C. edulis constituents was the discovery of (+)-norpseudoephedrine (cathine) in dried leaves by Wolfes in 1930 and during several decades this alkaloid was thought to be the main active principle of C. edulis [96]. However, as already pointed out by Brucke (1941), (+)-noipseudoephedrine is CNS stimulant of high potency and the amount of this substance that was present in a portion of C. edulis was insufficient to account for the symptoms observed after consumption of the material [97]. Subsequently, in the course of a reinvestigation of the constituents of C. edulis leaf, the United Nations Narcotics Laboratory identified this compound as a-aminopropiophenone and the name (-)-cathinone was proposed for the new alkaloid [98]. Since then, several researches on C. edulis constituents and its pharmacological effects have been recorded [99,100]. 

Gottesfeld and co-workers at Los Alamos National Laboratory proposed in 1994 a classification of conducting polymer-based electrochemical capacitors as schematically presented in Figure 15.6 [11], The first one is a symmetrical capacitor which involves the same p-dopable polymer for both electrodes and was called the Type I capacitor. Polypyrrole [11, 37, 47] and polyaniline [48] were commonly used as active electrode materials for the Type I capacitor. When the Type I capacitor is fully discharged, both electrodes are in a half-doped state. 

The Instrumentation and Laboratory Improvement (ILI) Program aids in the purchase of laboratory equipment for use in undergraduate laboratories at all levels. Annual funding has been 23 million for the past 5 years and is anticipated to remain at this level for the near future. Typically, 2300 proposals are received, resulting in approximately 600 awards per year. ILI has two components The major one accepts proposals for equipment only, the other, known as Leadership in Laboratory Development, seeks to support the development of exemplary national models for laboratory curricula by providing funds for personnel and supplies as well as for equipment. Five percent of the ILI budget is devoted to Leadership projects, and preliminary proposals are required. A 50% institutional match for equipment costs is necessary for all ILI proposals. The maximum allowable request from NSF is 100,000. In the 1992 competition, 60 proposals to initiate or improve materials science laboratories were received 15 were from departments of chemistry, the remainder from engineering units. 

Many methods have been proposed to address this issue (see Chapter 9). Beside thermal and chemical resistances of the sealing materials other issues need to be considered as well. One such important issue is the mismatch of the thermal expansion coefficients between the membrane element and the sealing material or joining material. While similar material design and engineering problems exist in ceramic, metal and ceramic-metal joining developmental work in this area is much needed to scale up gas separation units ot membrane reactors for production. The efforts are primarily p ormed by the industry and some national laboratories. 

Within the EC, existing and proposed Directives have implications for food and water microbiology laboratories with respect to standardisation methods and laboratory accreditation if there is to be mutual recognition of results within the single market. It is therefore important to be able to check both the performance of a method (national or international) as well as that of individual workers. The reference materials which have been and which will be developed and hopefully certified, will thus be available for the verification of both types of performance. 

Students who use this lab manual will critically examine the labels on consumer products and commercial chemical products for safety information. They will attempt to solve problems for chemical companies and research proposed new industrial processes and laboratory methods. They will analyze materials and consumer products to provide third-party answers to industrial problems. They will participate in proficiency testing and identify a waste acid that is designated for disposal. Students also will learn how to think critically in order to apply chemistry principles to solve these various problems and to report to a client. Students even play the role of industrial chemists that become involved in National Chemistry Week activities. 

Work is underway to standardize the test method described here as a new ASTM standard. An Inter-Laboratory Study (ILS) is proposed to include at least nine each of gasoline and diesel Tier 2 class materials containing sulfur levels between <10 and 80 mg/kg in gasoline and between <10 and 80 mg/kg in diesels. Some blind National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Standard Reference Materials (SRM) and solvent blanks are also plaimed for the cross check. The ILS will follow a protocol of an initial analysis of a set of samples and solvent blanks, and after an elapsed time of at least 12 h but no more than 72 h, a second set of measurements on the same set of samples and blanks will be completed. We expect this ILS to be completed by the end of2005. 

From the mid-1990s, there arose anew wave in fuel cell applications, that is, the automotive application and closely related applications of small stationary. It began with PEFC. Even so, SOFC has also received the impacts of new applications. This leads to two important efforts on SOFC developments (1) severer requirements for mechanical stability in automotive applications [22] and (2) smaller stationary application. The former has come from the new application proposed by BMW, Delphi, and Renault to utilize SOFC systems as auxiliary power unit in combustion engine cars. Since BMW and Delphi have cooperated with National Laboratories in their own countries, materials development has been made to improve mechanical instability. Development of simulation technique also helps to improve the stack technologies. The latter case of the small stationary systems gave rise to a big impact in Japan, Australia, Switzerland, and UK where the SOFC cogeneration systems have attracted strong attention. 

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