Presentation of the 2016 Northeast Region E. Ann Nalley Award for Volunteer Service to the American Chemical Society by Laura Pence to Dr. Jack Driscoll

Rapid real-time screening of soil and water at hazardous waste sites

This paper was presented at the American Chemical Society Fall meeting in Philadelphia, PA on the Environmental Chemistry Division program track in a symposium titled: Recent Advances in Remediation Strategies and Technologies for the Cleanup of Hazardous Waste Sites. This talk discusses headspace screening of VOC’s in soil and water samples that can be done in the field using a GC/PID headspace method for rapid detection. 

Headspace Gas Chromatograph/PID for Onsite Screening of Soil and Water at Hazardous Waste Sites from Jennifer Maclachlan

Cape Cod based manufacturer wins Research & Development award

Our small Cape Cod based business,  PID Analyzers, LLC, was awarded a prestigious Research and Development (R and D) 100 Award for the development of our Model 33 arsenic in water  and food analyzer in the laboratory equipment category at the 2013 RandD 100 awards ceremony Thursday evening November 7, 2013 in Orlando, FL.  The "R and D 100 Awards recognize the 100 most technologically significant products introduced into the marketplace over the past year" according to the press release issued by Research and Development  Magazine. In addition to our business receiving this honor, 
 my father and business partner, Jack Driscoll,

as the developer of the winning product, received  special recognition at the awards ceremony. 




Here is a short video of Jack and I on stage receiving the award.

Here is a full list of the 2013winners. Note that this is a major accomplishment to win an R and D 100 award and that our small, privately-held Cape Cod business competed against publicly traded companies as well as National Laboratories; for instance, Oak Ridge National Laboratories was celebrating their six awards which brings their total up to 179 according to their press release. These are a few of the *household names* on the winners list: General Motors, Dow Chemical and Olympus. We had the opportunity to participate in the RandD100 Awards Industry  Roundtable on the morning of the awards ceremony and banquet with executives from The Dow Chemical Company, Toyota Research and Thermo Fisher Scientific.

NESACS Meeting in Southeastern Massachusetts

Robert Lichter introducing Madeleine Jacobs at
the October 2012 NESACS Meeting 
Photo by M.Z. Hoffman

Please join us at the Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society (NESACS) first Southeastern Massachusetts meeting hosted by UMass Dartmouth on Thursday October 3, 2013. We have 7,500 members in our Northeastern Section and our monthly meetings normally take place in the Greater Boston area. Based on member interest in the SE MASS region, we have organized this meeting. Event schedule and location is as follows. Note that the event is free but seating is limited so kindly reserve your spot using this link today. 

Jennifer Maclachlan ‏@pidgirl4 Oct

#NESACS #SEMASS meeting at @UMassD last night: L to R: Hoffman, Lichter, Driscoll, Jacobs, Tanner & Shao pic.twitter.com/0JF0l2luHt

  Southeastern Massachusetts Meeting of the Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society by Jennifer Maclachlan

PID then and now

HNU photoionizers: The pinnacle of performance and reliability for detecting VOCs

Thirty nine years ago, Jack Driscoll founded HNU Systems, Inc., commercialized the technology of photoionization and simultaneously introduced the world's first hand-held photoionizer.  The first photoionization detector (PID) application in 1973 was for leak detection of vinyl chloride monomer. 


The Model 102+ is a considerably upgraded replacement for our Model PI101, HW101, DL101, 101N, and ISPI101 (analyzer group photo above). It has enhanced features such as a faster response time, extended range, elimination of any moisture sensitivity, capability of having up to 4 sensors plus a ppb range, and improvements such as a library of compounds, pump and datalogging. 

• The Model 102 Snap-On PID™ Photoionization Analyzer is a single piece, hand-held unit for the measurement of organic and inorganic species that can be ionized by the UV lamp (9.5, 10.6 & 11.7).     

This includes the choice of one (1) Snap-On Module (9.5, 10.2, 10.6, 11.7 eV lamp), Operator's Manual, and Rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride Battery. 

General Applications

Agriculture: Fumigant residues
Arson Investigations: Residual accelerants
Chemical Clean-up: Hazardous materials (organic/inorganic)
Chemicals: Toxic gases, vapors
Electronics: Doping gases, trichloroethylene
Environmental: Surveys, hazardous waste, fugitive emissions
Food & Feed Processing: Hexane residues, leaks
Glass reinforced plastics: Styrene w/o methyl methacrylate interference
Headspace: Hydrocarbons in soil and water
Industrial Hygiene: Workplace monitoring, surveys, leak detection
Toxicology Research: Toxicology, chamber monitoring
Machine: Degreasing solvents
Nylon Manufacturing: Carbon disulfide without H2S interference
Packaging: Residual solvents, monomers
Paper & Pulp: Reduced sulfur compounds
Paper Coating: Solvents
Medical/Hospital: Ethylene Oxide, formaldehyde, anesthetic gases
Pipe Manufacturing: Coating solvents
Plastics: Monomer leaks, residues
Printing: Toluene, other ink solvents
Refineries: Aromatics, sulfur compounds, fugitive emissions
Semiconductor: Arsine, phosphine, hydrogen sulfide, boron, tribromide
Textile: Dimethyl formamide leaks, benzene vapors

Specifications

Species measured:

Organics (VOCs) and inorganic species that can be ionized by the UV lamp (9.5, 10.6, 11.7)

Sensor(s):

PID + optional ppb range, optional 1-3 additional sensors can be added

Precision:

+/- 1% of reading

Response time:

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Sample flow rate:

> 0.2 LPM

Span Drift:

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Range:

0.1 to 3000 or to 30,000 ppm with dilution probe

Linear Range:

To 3,000 ppm direct reading

Power consumption:

< 1 watt maximum

Dimensions:

10'' L x 3'' W x 2.25'' D

Weight:

1.9 pounds

Instrument operating conditions:

5-40 degrees C, 0-95% RH (non-condensing)

Performance:

Isobutylene Referred

Battery operated: - > 10 hours of operation

Features

Snap on Heads

Unique Snap on Heads are available only from PID. For the model 102, the lamps are in Snap on Heads that are optimized for each lamp. The readout unit recognizes the head type and calibration factors when the heads are interchanged.

Sensors

Optional ppb range for PID, capable of adding 1-3 optional sensors such as 30+ Electrochemical sensors, IR (4) or Thermal Conductivity Detector or Combustible Gas (CG). 

Lamps

Our 11.7 lamp is the only stable one available as a result of our development of the first 11.7 eV lamp nearly 30 years ago. Our 10.2/10.6 eV lamps remain the best in the business since we developed them over 30 years ago.

Headspace Software

The accuracy of VOC measurements in soil and water is greatly improved with the built in software method. No operator interpolation is required.

Single piece construction

The single piece construction (when the head and readout units are snapped together) of ABS plastic is very rugged and durable

Ease of calibration

The two point calibration for the PID uses an electronic zero (no zero gas needed) and a span gas. The time to calibrate is about 10 seconds. The Cal button is located on the main menu for ease of use. Jack Driscoll leads the user through the simple calibration procedure. 

Datalogging

Manual or automatic datalogging (7,000 points) is available. The 102 has a built in real time clock. Viewer software (Windows 98-XP compatible) comes with the 102

Library

There are libraries for the 9.5, 10.7 and 11,7 lamps that are easily accessible. There are more than 300 response factors built into the 102

Display

Our 2 line by 16 character display can be backlit. The upper display and the bottom display provides the Lamp eV, units, alarm and logging mode.

ADC

Our 16 bit ADC provides a resolution of 1 part in 64,000 and our signal algorithm minimizes noise by signal averaging in the msec range

Programmable Voltage output

0-1VDC

Request a quotation

Portable Analyzers Brochure

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An afternoon in the life of a chemistry ambassador

Guest Blog post by: Dr. Jack Driscoll

Today (Feb. 27, 2012) I visited the Cold Springs Elementary School in Plymouth, MA. I had met the Principal (Mrs. Laura Dolloff) at our 4thCape Cod Science Café in Dec. 2011. Two of the teachers were interested in starting a science club and my visit would kick it off. I brought a few slides to explain pH and three water samples (pH range 5-11) to provide a bit of color for the pH paper test. We had nearly 100 students from grades 2-5. When I asked for volunteers, everyone raised their hands. One of the teachers commented that some of those kids never volunteer for anything, I picked two boys and a girl who were very excited. About 10 children used the pH paper before  their buses were there.

 

I explained that science can be more difficult than geography but we live in a very technological society and it will be even more so in your generation. I mentioned a Dick Tracy comic strip in the 1950’s where his “TV watch” was used to communicate with HQ. Now 60 years later, that technology is available in the I Phone. I asked how many of you have cell phones and 80% raised their hands. This surprised the teachers. 

I showed them the portable VOC analyzer that we manufacture in Sandwich and the class got very excited. 

Kim Williams, who teaches 4^th  and  5^th grade science did an experiment called "elephant tooth paste" and the kids loved it! 

I had at least a half dozen kids come up to me and tell me that they loved science. That made it all worthwhile. 

I talked to the two teachers for about an hour after the talk discussing NESACS programs with Boston MOS and Boston Children’s Museum, Cambridge Science Festival, SE MA STEM EXPO and various ACS programs and experiments for schools. I suggested that they become chemistrv ambassadors and look for videos of Bassam Shakhashiri experiments on you tube that would be interesting for their students...by Jack Driscoll

@pidgirl's #IYC2011 month by month best in blog & media coverage

@pidgirl's #IYC2011 month by month best in blog and media coverage 

Blog post: #ACSBoston IYC Preparation and Inspiration

January 2011-Media Coverage  News of the Week Kick-off of #IYC2011 including science cafe's on Cape Cod and my blog post Cape Cod Science Cafe

February 2011-Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society (NESACS) Local Section Monthly Meeting where I got to meet Nancy Jackson, 2011 President of the American Chemical Society.

Her dinner talk on technology was inspiring and the spirit of her speech was certainly echoed by Jack at all of the #IYC2011 Cape Cod Science Cafes during his introductions of the mission of IYC and the vision of the sustainability of the chemical enterprise.





Not an Official IYC event but we sure discussed #IYC2011 at our February National Committee Meeting: Committee on Public Relations and Communications (CPRC)-first visit to the American Chemical Society Headquarters in DC (pictured below).

#pittcon Booth Duty: What kind of analyzers are those? Click to read all about it.

March 2011-#pittcon Leveraging Social Media

 Dancing Chemists at #ACSAnaheim (yes, I'm in the video: back row, long red skirt)

April 2011-Cape Cod Science Cafe

 I was an invited  speaker at Sparkle Training of the Local Section PR Chairs, ACS HQ, Washington, D.C.

 

May 2011-The Chemistry of Industrial Hygiene Reception
This was a particularly neat event: bringing together the fields of chemistry and industrial hygiene (like we do at PID Analyzers) by organizing an #IYC2011 event sponsored by the Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society at the American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition. I contacted governance from the local section: Portland American Chemical Society. Read more about it.

Hewitt, Brabham-Chair Portland LS, Maclachlan, Driscoll, Terrell-Chair-Elect Portland LS

June 2011-Hanover Day 


NESACS  reserved a table as a civic organization in order to introduce the denizens of the South Shore to the International Year of Chemistry.

July 2011-Told all my friends to watch "chemistry" Jeopardy!, 


Blogged about the IUPAC Congress Meeting

August 2011-Greater Boston Mass Spec Discussion Group Family Picnic

George totally hooked us up with the tye-dye lab coats

Chemistry Ambassadors at the family picnic. Attendees with kids were amazed and delighted that we provide hands on chemistry experiments for the kids. As if the bouncy house wasn't awesome enough...then add in some cool science, and yes, we had LN2!! Read more.

Here's what the press had to say about it.

I talked this symposium up on Twitter creating this Twitter event that earned lots o' re-tweets:
  Communicating Chemistry to the Public symposium
For sure we could have used a much bigger room for this event. The house was packed and there were constantly folks standing along the walls. Important also to note that this was a continuos session without a break and extremely well attended.
More info including speaker line-up etc about this awesome symposium here.

September 2011 CEN Blog: Twitter Takes Hold at #ACSDenver,

Here's my Facebook status after I spotted the Twitter Takes Hold at #ACSDenver:

Jennifer Maclachlan

http://cenblog.org/newscripts/2011/09/twitter-takes-hold-at-acsdenver/

I have arrived: I've been blogged about in Chemical & Engineering News!!

Twitter Takes Hold At #ACSDenver

cenblog.org

The Twitterati were out in full force at this year’s ACS fall national meeting it seems. So much so that yesterday, ACS Web specialist Chris McCarthy (@CMcC_ACS) tweeted: I did a little analysis. #ACSDenver was tweeted >3x as much as the hashtags for Anaheim and Boston were and the meeting isn’t eve...

 ·  · Share · September 2 at 7:09pm

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    Delete CommentMark as Spam

    George Ruger The story is great. However, the total number of participants were over 20. And what an awesome photographer!!
    

    September 3 at 12:37am ·  ·  1
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    Jennifer Maclachlan ‎@George did you get any pics of Tweetup group 2 or was that when you were chasing the news team across the street? Can you send me your pics? From all of Denver?
    

    September 9 at 9:15pm · 

My #ACSDenver Tweetup blog post

October 2011-CAPE COD TIMES COLUMN on my Cape Cod Science Cafe, NESACS celebrates National Chemistry Week, 


I was an invited speaker at #SERMACS2011. I presented two separate presentations in the Social Media in Science Symposium. Here is the full speaker and topic line-up. 

#SERMACS2011 Social Media in Science Symposium presenters meet and greet luncheon. L to R: Kevin Majors, Ken Podraza, Thomas Devore, Laura Provan,Jennifer Maclachlan, A. Martin, F. Luna-Vera, Ashton T. Griffin, Barbara Reisner and Nathalie Herring

 — with  at The Tobacco Company Restaurant.

November 2011-I spent November planning for the IYC Q4 Cape Cod Science Cafe, getting presentations accepted for #ACSSanDiego and promoting the upcoming #pittcon Conferee Networking Discussion Sessions.

December 2011-CAPE COD TIMES COLUMN about Cape Cod Science Cafe celebrates Healthy Kids and Jack and I. 


SANDWICH ENTERPRISE Feature Story: Making Science Palatable for Kids

2011 was an amazing year to celebrate the achievements of chemistry via chemistry outreach and increasing the public perception of chemistry. Where do we go from here? We continue  the celebration of chemistry into 2012!