Top marks for NMR processor

The department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University has purchased a site licence of the ACD/2D NMR processor. The Advanced Chemistry Development (ACD/Labs) processor will be deployed to all faculty staff and students for use on department-owned or leased computers as well as personal PCs.

The head librarian of the Chemistry and Chemical Biology Library, Marcia Chapin, was in charge of finding an appropriate NMR application to meet her patron's requirements. She chose the ACD/Labs processor because it met the requested capabilities and features given to her by people at the department.

The NMR product manager at ACD/Labs, Bret Lefebvre, commented, "ACD/Labs software has been used in some form at Harvard University since 1995, so with this acquisition we look forward to a partnership stretching far into the future."

For more information visit www.acdlabs.com

Pittcon 2007 — change of venue

An announcement has been made concerning the venue for Pittcon 2007 by the event's committee. It has been decided that Pittcon 2007 will be held in Chicago, USA instead of New Orleans.

This decision was made after the Pittcon Committee met with the New Orleans Convention Bureau officials, various local civic and business leaders and visited the city to assess its infrastructure, safety, transportation, housing and hospitality. Pittcon president and chairman of the board, Kevin McKaveney, stated, "Despite considerable progress in rebuilding its infrastructure and revitalizing support services, New Orleans continues to face significant marketing challenges in rebuilding its image."

Pittcon is the largest annual scientific meeting of its kind with over 20000 attendees and 1100 exhibitors. It provides an annual forum for scientists to present research in a variety of scientific disciplines and also manufacturers to display latest advances in scientific instrumentation.

The Pittcon Committee has reaffirmed its commitment to return the conference to New Orleans in 2008.

For more information visit www.pittcon.org

Technique for renewable fuel analysis

Biodiesel is a new alternative fuel that is clean burning and produced from renewable resources. Metrohm offers a solution to the analytical requirements that must be met in the production of fuel-grade biodiesel.

This alternative fuel contains no petroleum but it can be blended with fossil diesel at any level. It is made through a transesterification process, which separates the glycerin from the fat or vegetable oil. Two products are left after the process has been performed: glycerin (ingredient for soap etc.) and methyl esters (biodiesel).

Biodiesel must comply with strict industry specifications (ASTM D6751) before it can be classed as a fuel grade substance. Metrohm offers solutions to many of the requirements of the European standards EN14214, EN14112 and EN14214/EN ISO 12937, which stipulate the determination of acid value and iodine number by titration, measurement of the oxidative stability of fatty acid methyl esters and the coulometric KF titration method determination of water content respectively. These requirements are necessary to ensure the proper performance of the alternative fuel.

For more information visit the company's website at www.metrohm.com

Joining of cryopreservation services

A total service package will be provided to UK customers after two major companies involved in cryopreservation for biomedical applications joined forces. CryoService has chosen Chart Biomedical as its preferred UK distributor to combine liquid gas supply with its MVE range of cryopreservation equipment and installation.

CryoService supplies liquid nitrogen, liquid argon, liquid oxygen, carbon dioxide, special gases and gas mixtures throughout Britain and already has a large client base in the biomedical sector. Chart Biomedical is the leading supplier of products for freezing, long-term storage and distribution of biological materials and its vacuum technology has led the way to set industry standards in global cryopreservation advances. The company's product range extends from a broad line of liquid and vapour phase freezers for straw, ampoule and blood bag storage to lightweight aluminium shippers and Dewars.

For more information visit the CryoService website at www.cryoservice.co.uk