CONTINUOUS MONITORING OF NITROGEN COMPOUNDS IN WASTEWATER WITH WIRELESS DATA TRANSMISSION

PRESENTED AT PITTCON 2008 in New Orleans, LA

John N. Driscoll, Walter Johnson, Pol Perov, Patricia Hogan, Nicholas Hennigan, Brian Muccioli, John Hamm, George Heufelder, and Keith Mroczka

Denitrification of wastewater on Cape Cod is an important process because of the nitrogen problems in this area. As a result, there are a number of denitrification systems in use and are being tested at Otis Air Force Base on Cape Cod.

The continuous measurement of nitrogen compounds in wastewater is important in determining the long-term effectiveness of control techniques. It is difficult to judge the long-term performance of any system with only grab samples (weekly/biweekly). The continuous systems will send a signal wirelessly to a PC in a nearby trailer that is connected to the internet. The data will be available to Suffolk University, the Town of Barnstable, and the vendor of the wastewater system. The advantage of the wireless system is that built-in diagnostics (calibration, pump, etc.) will improve the uptime as well as the quality and quantity of the data. We will be adding MODBUS (bidirectional RS232) communications to the analyzer to further enhance the diagnostics. If MODBUS was added to the control system, remote tuning of the control system would be possible.

The analyzer will be a PID Model 610 that uses ion-selective electrodes for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Each of the sensors will have a separate pump for the addition of ionic strength adjustment buffers prior to the measurement. A single meter will be used to display the results and convert the output to a linear voltage proportional to concentration. Samples of wastewater (24-hour integrated) will be collected daily and run by standard methods at the Barnstable County water labs. We will compare the 24-hour integrated sample results with the results from the continuous analyzers, and determine the effectiveness of these electrochemical techniques for continuous monitoring of wastewater.

Fast GC Analysis with PID & FUV Detectors for Industrial Hygiene Monitoring at Low ppb Levels

Fast GC Analysis with PID and FUV Detectors for Industrial Hygiene Monitoring at Low ppb Levels by John N. Driscoll, D. Walsh of PID Analyzers and Phil Smith of USDOL OSHA, has been accepted for podium presentation during the 2011 American Industrial Hygiene Conference & Expo (AIHce), May 14-May 19 in Portland, OR. 

Topic:Air Sampling Instrument Performance   

Presentation #:PO 111-1  

This  podium presentation is scheduled in the session titled Field Detection, Sampling and Analysis: Real Time Detection Systems, scheduled for Tuesday May 17, 2011 10:30 AM - 10-50 AM.

Featured product #AIHCE booth #718

Abstract:
Objective: Fast Analysis of Gases and Solvents- Industrial Hygienists are typically pushed to provide rapid solutions involving a variety of complex mixtures that threaten workers health.
Methods: Portable Gas chromatography with a photoionization detector (PID),one of the most sensitive detectors for organic compounds, and a Far UV detector (nearly universal detector with ppb detection capability). The detection limits for benzene with these two detectors on a conventional capillary column (0. 32 mm id X 15M wax with an 0.5 μ film) were 0.5 ppb for the PID and 30 ppb for the FUV.

Results-Our approach involves using a 25m x 0.32 mm packed with Haysep P (for analysis of solvents) that is restively heated and can be programmed at a high rate. It can also be cooled faster since it has a very small thermal mass. A sample of 50 ppb of benzene was run on the PID & FUV. Note that the peak heights (counts) were improved by 5-9 times for these two detectors. The analysis times were similar because of the stronger retention of benzene on the porous polymer column. The advantage here is that the porous polymer column can be used for gases or solvents whereas the capillary column is designed only for solvents.
Conclusions- The precision (coefficient of variation) at 50 ppb was +/- 5% for the PID and +/- 15% for the FUV. No significant difference in precision was observed between the two types of columns. The main advantage was that the fast GC (with porous polymer column) could analyze a much wider range of compounds than the capillary column.

JOIN US AT A RECEPTION AT #AIHCE:

in honor of AIHA Real-Time Detection Systems Committee Member, Jack Driscoll on Sunday May 15, 2011 from 6pm-7pm at the Hilton Portland & Exec Towers, 23rd Floor. Please register by emailing me or using the registration link here.

Pittcon 2011 Tweetups

We had so much fun at PITTCON 2010 at our two Tweetups and the 2011 Tweetups were also successful and gained some press coverage. An excerpt from my blog got included in the description for social networking (Tweetups) in the March 14 issue of Pittcon Today. The daytime Tweetup was featured with a picture in the March 16 issue of Pittcon Today and a small article appeared in the March 17 issue of Pittcon Today.

C&EN photographed the daytime Tweetup. Hope we make it into the ACS Anaheim issue.

The morning Pittcon Tweetup is run as a social media brainstorming meeting  with participants sharing ideas, experiences and methodology with respect to all aspects of social media. 

The evening Tweetup is more socially based and run as a Tweetup-where folks who met on Twitter get together and meet in person. And of course Tweeting from the Tweetup is an absolute must!

PITTCON 2011 attendees and exhibitors can expect more Twitter participation this year since there will be a live Twitter-feed display in Centennial Park located on the Georgia World Congress Pittcon show floor. This will of course encourage participation: nothing like seeing your Twitter handle on the big screen.

The plans for the Tweetups at PITTCON 2011 have already been organized thanks to Ken Grant of Analtech and a fellow esteemed member of Pittcon's Exhibitor Advisory Council For Marketing (EACFM) and Pam Wasielewski, Marketing Assistant at The Pittsburgh Conference.

The Morning Tweetup was Tuesday, March 15th at 10:00 a.m. at Foodworks (Georgia World Congress Center, Level 2, Building B)

GWCC Web photo

Photo courtesy of Ken Grant

Photo courtesy of Ken Grant

The Evening Pittcon Tweet Up was held at STATS at 7:00 p.m. (about 5 minute walk from the convention center.)

STATS photo from Stats web site

 PITTCON on Twitter using #pittcon is still active. Join the conversation.

Follow @pittcon, @ichromatography and @pidgirl

Photo courtesy of George Ruger

Photo courtesy of George Ruger

Photo courtesy of George Ruger

Selective GC Detectors and Their Role in Environmental Analysis

241st ACS National Meeting, Anaheim, CA

 

Program Area: ENVR: Division of Environmental Chemistry 

This poster will be presented twice by Jennifer Maclachlan at the Spring National Meeting:

1) Symposium Title: (ENVR018b) Sci-Mix Monday March 28, 2011 8-10pm

Celebrate IYC 2011 and be a chemistry ambassador. Join us before SCI-MIX for the Chemistry Rap Dance taping for You Tube. Click here for details.

2) Symposium Title: (ENVR006b) General Posters Wednesday March 30, 2011 6-8pm

Program Area: ENVR: Division of Environmental Chemistry-being considered for a Certificate of Merit Award

Presenting Author: Jennifer Maclachlan

Contributing Authors:

Thomas F. Daniels, CASU SCD and NCD Product Manager, Life Sciences and Chemical Analysis,  Agilent Technologies, 5301 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Santa Clara, CA, 95051-7201, United States

Stan Stearns³, President, Valco, 8399 Westview, Houston, TX, 77055, United States 

Paul Patterson⁴ , DETector Engineering & Technology, 2212 Brampton Road, Walnut Creek, CA, 94598, United States

Selective GC Detectors and their role in environmental analysis is often overlooked with the heavy reliance on mass spec detectors which is why PID Analyzers, LLC organized this group of manufacturers of GC Detectors, GC columns and users of GCs to educate this new generation of chromatographers on selective detector technologies and methods. Contributors were deliberately selected to present an overview of selective GC detectors appropriate for a wide range of environmental analysis. Description and data will include: Fixed gases and hydrocarbons with a FarUltraviolet Absorbance detector, sulfur and nitrogen detection by chemiluminescence (SCD) and (NCD), pesticide residue analysis and detection of halogenated compounds by ECD, novel application of the principles of Thermoionic Surface Ionization (TID) and FlameIonization (FID) and lastly, inert & fixed gases using micro thermal conductivity detector (TCD) and Helium Ionization Detector (HID).

IYC KICKOFF EVENT: CAPE COD

Come Celebrate the International Year of Chemistry 2011
At the Cape Cod Science Cafe hosted by local ACS Members: 

Jennifer Maclachlan and Dr. Jack Driscoll
Sponsors include: American Chemical Society Northeastern Section, The Town of Barnstable, The Cape Cod Commission, Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment and PID Analyzers, LLC

Cape Cod Science Cafe: Protecting the Cape Cod Water Supply
At The Hyannis Golf Club, Route 132, Hyannis, MA 02601

RESCHEDULED DUE TO WEATHER TO:
Tuesday March 1, 2011
6:30pm-9pm

Soft drinks and light appetizers will be provided. Cash bar.

Introduction and overview of International Year of Chemistry presented by Jennifer Maclachlan on behalf of Dr. Morton Hoffman

Event Speakers:

  Krista Longnecker, Ph.D. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute will present: "A scientific perspective of water on Cape Cod"

Additional speakers include: 

 Gongmin Lei, M.S. Laboratory Director,  Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment will present "Inside Barnstable County Water Labs: An Overview of their State-of-the-Art laboratory equipment-what is is and what it does"

Susan Rask, M.S., R.S., Barnstable County Dept. of Health and Environment will present on the subject of Nitrogen and the Cape Cod coastal water quality

This event is open to the public and the purpose is to have the speakers, who are chemists or use chemistry in their jobs to educate the audience about this critical issue: 
protecting the water supply here on Cape Cod.

Calling all Cape Cod Twitter users; come meet with us and tweet with us from the Cape Cod Science Cafe. Follow the conversation: @pidgirl and the hashtag: #ccscicafe

RSVP to this event

The Role of Analytical Chemists in an Age of High-End Instrumentation & Robotization

Join me, Jennifer Maclachlan and Dr. Jack Driscoll,  at PITTCON in Atlanta, GA at our Conferee Networking Session on Tuesday March 15, 2011 from 4:30pm-6:30pm Room 218 Georgia World Congress Center to discuss my topic: The Role of Analytical Chemists in an Age of High-End Instrumentation and Robotization. 

Facilitators: Jennifer Maclachlan and Jack Driscoll

Description:
This networking session will be discussing how to maintain jobs for chromatographers by encouraging labs/researchers/industry/government to utilize lower end instrumentation that achieve better results.
 

What is a PITTCON Conferee Networking Session? "A Conferee Networking Session at PITTCON is free to all registered attendees and provides an open forum for people to establish new friendships, alliances and communication in an informal environment. These sessions provide an arena for conferees, exhibitors, sales and technical people to come together to discuss topics of mutual interest or solve problems specific to certain instrumentation and anything else of interest.

You can meet other people with similar interests, share your experiences with new technology, or brainstorm new ideas. Various year long networking groups have sprung up as a result of these sessions". Source of Quoted Text

National Chemistry Week on Cape Cod

Cape Cod Celebration October 21, 2011

ACS Member Volunteers: Dr. Jack Driscoll and Jennifer Maclachlan (wearing her Chemistry Ambassador pin)

At my first local section meeting, I had the pleasure of meeting the American Chemical Society (ACS) local section National Chemistry Week Chair, Christine Jaworek-Lopes, who gave me an incredible amount of support and a bagful of National Chemistry Week supplies to share with my "junior-chemists-in-training". Then, my "Jiggle Gels" kit arrived from The American Chemical Society, courtesy of The Chemistry Ambassadors, two days before Jack and I were scheduled to appear before the local after school program kids to celebrate National Chemistry Week. We had an abundance of chemistry related goodies with which to share and excite the children about chemistry. 

I arrived early and set up the tables with all our supplies including safety goggles-which were of course a huge hit amongst all of the kids grades K-8 since they were "like real scientists".

We had about 40 kids in all and they came in two rounds; each arriving looking tired and hungry after a long day of school. The older children, surprised by the room setup and the chemistry props and tools, raced to the tables thrilled by the idea of "doing a science experiment", forgoing their snacks until we had made every last bit of bright green slime.

As the little ones came in, the older students eagerly helped their young peers who arrived in the second group. First guiding them through the "lipstick experiment" and then telling them "how cool it was to make slime and how they could keep it" and showing them how to use the dropper and how much to measure of each "chemical". We had the children work both in partners and on their own-like real chemists; as a team and independently-the kids loved being like real chemists.


We even had the local newspaper in covering the event. The reporter was impressed by the level of enthusiasm that the children were exhibiting.

We promised the kids we'd come back soon to celebrate the International Year of Chemistry and also promised the program directors that we'd come in once a quarter during International Year of Chemistry.

At parent pick-up, one of the eighth graders ran up to his mother and asked her to high-five him and he "slimed" her-good thing the mother was amused with a "eeoow, gross" response. He said "Mom, you don't even understand HOW COOL this was; we did chemistry and made the slime  FROM SCRATCH, using chemistry".  

This made my heart happy.