How social media marketing influences sales at a small chemical business

This presentation has been accepted for the technical program of the 245th ACS National Meeting that will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana, April 7-11, 2013.

PAPER ID: 20037
PAPER TITLE: “How social media marketing influences sales at a small chemical business” 

DIVISION: SCHB: Division of Small Chemical Businesses
SESSION: SCHB Poster Session Sunday April 7, 2013 & SCIMIX Monday April 8,2013 

PRESENTATION FORMAT: Poster


PID Analyzers, LLC launched their social media marketing plan in November of 2008 with a monthly E-Newsletter utilizing Constant ContactTM. One year later, in November 2009, a Facebook Business Page, the corporate blog “The Analyzer Source,” a LinkedIn page, and two Twitter accounts for owners Jack Driscoll (Twitter handle @pidguy) and Jennifer Maclachlan (Twitter handle @pidgirl) were established. We began to publish regular updates on LinkedIn while continuously building our own professional networks on LinkedIn. In the last year we added Google+, Pinterest, and Tumblr to our marketing efforts. We are reaching a unique audience with each social media platform and we offer value with each post; the result is that our following is increasing. How do we do this? We note what people "like,"retweet, or comment on and consistently make our next post not about our products, but about people, places, and things that interest us and make us more human and less corporate. This poster will explore how we have built relationships with customers and prospective customers via social media marketing and how it has translated to sales of our analyzers.

Monitoring ppb levels of ambient air pollutants via hyphenated techniques: HRGC/ in-series selective detection

Accepted for presentation in Advancements in Air Monitoring Symposium at the Spring National Meeting of the American Chemical Society April 2013

AUTHORS

1. Jack N Driscoll¹ , Dr., PID Analyzers, LLC, 2 Washington Circle, #4, Sandwich, MA, 02563, United States , 6176994307, United States 

2. Jennifer L Maclachlan¹ , PID Analyzers, LLC, 2 Washington Circle, #4, Sandwich, MA, 02563, United States , 6176994307, United States

Title: Monitoring ppb levels of ambient air pollutants via hyphenated techniques: HRGC/ in-series selective detection

Abstract Body: High resolution gas chromatography (HRGC) with a capillary column (50,000 to 100,000 theoretical plates) is an efficient and effective means for separation of a complex mixture of chemicals in the ambient air. Since retention times are used for identification, either a second column with a different polarity or the ratio of two detectors are used to confirm the identity of various solutes in a number of USEPA methods. The photoionization detector [1] is a very sensitive (0.5 ppt benzene (VOC's) and non-destructive detector (second detector can be run in-series) for volatile and semivolatile organic compounds. The PID/FID method was described more than 30 years ago [2] for identification of natural gas components, and has been used more recently for identification of ambient hydrocarbons. In a similar manner, a flame photometric detector (FPD) can be used in conjunction with the PID to identify S or P compounds in the air. A PID Analyzers Model 322 Automatic GC with temperature programming and a PID/FID or a PID/FPD was used for these measurements. The ambient measurements were made near our Cape Cod, MA facility which is at the perimeter of the Mass Military Reservation.

References

1. Driscoll, J.N., “Gas Chromatography in Environmental Analysis” Environmental Instrumentation Handbook, Wiley , NY (2005)

2. Driscoll, et al., "Gas Chromatographic Detection and Identification of Aromatic and Aliphatic Hydrocarbons in Complex Mixtures by Coupling Photoionization and Flame Ionization Detectors," J. Chrom., 158, 171 (1978).

@pidgirl's social media in science presentations of 2012

Jennifer Maclachlan @pidgirl at Chemical Heritage Foundation, Philadelphia, PA 08/2012

Utilizing social media to continue the International Year of Chemistry mission beyond 2012 Maclachlan, Jennifer, PID Analyzers, LLC, Pittcon 2012 Orlando, FL Analytical Chemistry Division Poster Session slot #23

 Staying lean and utilizing social media: Remaining relevant as a small chemical business Maclachlan, Jennifer and Driscoll, Jack, PID Analyzers, LLC American Chemical Society Spring National Meeting 2012 San Diego, CA See presentation here 

Embracing the new media: making social and digital media

 the marketing plan Maclachlan, Jennifer, PID Analyzers, LLC American Chemical Society Spring National Meeting 2012 San Diego, CA SCI-MIX 

Social Media Presentation at Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society Long Range Planning Session, Maclachlan, Jennifer  June 14, 2012 Woburn, MA

Organizer and Presiding at How Small Businesses Grow and Increase Sales Using Social Media Maclachlan, Jennifer PID Analyzers, LLC American Chemical Society Fall National Meeting 2012, Philadelphia, PA  

Utilizing ACS Network, Google+ and Pinterest as marketing tools for my small chemical business Maclachlan, Jennifer PID Analyzers, LLC American Chemical Society Fall National Meeting 2012, Philadelphia, PA 

Demystifying social sharing: an interactive workshop for chemists who are skeptical about social media Maclachlan, Jennifer, PID Analyzers, LLC Northeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society (NERM), October 2012 Rochester, NY

Utilizing social media to market technology companies Maclachlan, Jennifer and Mane, Joselin Starting and Financing your Small Chemical Business symposium presented by NESACS & SCHB, October 2012, Waltham, MA

Terahertz Spectroscopy at Eastern Analytical Symposium

Included in the 2012 Technical Program at Eastern Analytical Symposium & Exposition

Session track:
Diverse Industrial and Cultural Applications
Oral Session

Anis Rahman

Chair: Daryl P.Cobranchi, DuPont Washington Works


11:00  303  Terahertz Spectrometry: A New Frontier for Nano- and Pico-Scale Investigations, 
Anis Rahman, Aunik Rahman, Applied Research & Photonics


Session track:
Soft Surfaces and Interfaces 
Oral Session
Chair: Andrew Teplyakov, University of Delaware


2:40  385  Terahertz Scanning Reflectometry: A New Frontier 
for Non-Invasive In-Depth Investigation, 
Anis  Rahman, Aunik K. Rahman, Bozena B. MichniakKohn, Applied Research & Photonics

For more information or to request a copy of the presentation(s) contact Anis Rahman.

Stay tuned for information on the upcoming Terahertz Spectroscopy thematic programming in the Analytical Chemistry Division and co-sponsored by the Division of Small Chemical Businesses at the American Chemical Society Spring National Meeting.

Analysis of ppb Levels of VOC's and Hydrides by Gas Chromatography (GC) / Photoionization (PID)

Title: Analysis of ppb Levels of VOC's and Hydrides by Gas Chromatography (GC) / Photoionization (PID)

Subject Category: Physical Sciences

Session Selection: 

AAAS General Poster Session 

Slot: Sunday, February 17, 2013: 1:00 PM-5:00 PM #9780

Analysis of ppb Levels of VOC's and Hydrides by Gas Chromatography (GC) / Photoionization (PID)

Presenting author: Jennifer L. Maclachlan, PID Analyzers, LLC, Sandwich, MA and Jack N. Driscoll, PID Analyzers, LLC Sandwich, MA

Abstract Text:

The first commercial PID was introduced at the Pittsburgh Conference  in 1976 by HNU Systems. This detector was found to be 50-100 times more sensitive than the flame ionization detector (FID). The PID has  gone through several redesigns since then and has found a niche in environmental EPA 502,  602, 8040 etc. and trace (ppb) analysis with more than 15,000 units sold.
The fourth generation PID that has been developed has improved noise characteristics in the lamp circuit and in the electrometer. The high voltage circuit employs a Cockcroft Walton  multiplier and uses a constant current source instead of a constant voltage design that was used in previous PID’s. This  has resulted in a 20-30% reduction in the background noise level and allowed  us to achieve sub pg detection levels for aromatic compounds and hydrides.  This poster will illustrate the chromatographic improvements achieved with this fourth generation PID. 

Check out my Gas Chromatography Board on Pinterest 

A Sensitive Method for the Measurement of Inorganic Arsenic in Apple Juice: Hydride Generation (HG)/Photoionization (PID)

Accepted for presentation in the Sunday Poster Session at AAAS Boston February 17, 2013 at the Hynes Convention Center Boston, MA

Title:

 A Sensitive Method for the Measurement of Inorganic Arsenic in Apple Juice: Hydride Generation (HG)/Photoionization (PID)

Subject Category:

 Environment and Ecology

Session Selection:

 AAAS General Poster Session

Slot:

 : Sunday, February 17, 2013: 1:00 PM-5:00 PM

 Authors: Jack N. Driscoll¹ , PID Analyzers, LLC, 2 Washington Circle, #4, Sandwich, Massachusetts, US, 02563, United States

2. Jennifer L Maclachlan¹ , PID Analyzers, LLC, 2 Washington Circle, #4, Sandwich, Massachusetts, US, 02563, United States 

---

Abstract Body: 

In January of 2012, Consumer Reports found 10% of apple juice samples tested from five brands had total arsenic levels above the drinking water standard of 10 parts per billion. Most of that arsenic was inorganic arsenic, a known carcinogen. American apple juice is made from apple concentrate, a majority of which is imported from China. Inorganic Arsenic has been detected as AsH₃ following hydride reduction and AA or ICP MS. The cost of these types of spectrometers is in the $60-200K price range.

Many labs would have to choose the older colorimetric methods but we have developed and modified the a simple and sensitive hydride generation-PID method for arsenic in water analysis at ppb levels (1) to work with food and juice. The system cost is a fraction of the $60K spectrometer price.

We will describe the modifications of a new method for arsenic in apple juice.

1.       Driscoll, JN and GA Cutter, “Total and Speciated Arsenic Compounds in Water by Photoionization and Gas Chromatography/PID”in "Toxic Trace Metal Remobilization & Remediation - A Geochemical Body of Work" to be published by the ACS (2012)

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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Could it Be? Halloween without Snow?

Rascal, Renegades Mascot mummified

Guest blog post by George Ruger

For anyone familiar with last year's Halloween event at Dutchess Stadium courtesy of the Hudson Valley Renegades, you know that it was right after the first, and biggest, snowstorm of the region. 

George Ruger, Councilor Mid-Hudson ACS

Not to be outdone in 2012, this year Halloween was preceded by Hurricane Sandy, or as some called her, the Frankenstorm.  While the storm left quite a mess to clean up, there was still time to stop briefly and reflect on the true meaning of Halloween- CANDY, with a little bit of Chemistry mixed in.
 

The event hosted over 1,000 attendees.  We had kids all dressed up and ready to get candy from about 20 vendors.  Many of the vendors were sponsors of various games during the season.  The primary sponsor, TEG FCU, made it all possible for the event to be free of charge to the public. 

TEG Credit Union employees, who were the primary sponsors of the event 

There was face painting, pumpkin and Renegades hats decorating, food, and a bouncy house of course.  Plus happy kids getting loaded up on sugar and chocolate, and so were some of the parents too!  

Our excellent Renegades staff, Vicky and Kristen

And what about the Chemistry you ask?  Well, the Mid Hudson section brought their own twist to the holiday, and showed some Chemistry in between giving out handfulls of candy.  There was the now classic pH testing of drinking water (pH of around 7) and soda (pH about 3)  Yes, that nice beverage to wash down all that sugary goodness is on the acidic side.  It may taste good, but not quite so good for your teeth.  Not so much for the rest of you either!  

We also had our chemical volcano- the good old baking soda and vinegar trick, with some added color of the Blood of the Dead!!  Ok, it was food coloring- Don't call OSHA or anything.  We tried various colors, red, green, blue, purple.  Purple is quite popular among kids.  Yellow- not so much.

Renegades staff fighting them ghosts

A new adventure for our Halloween event was the good old soda and mentos rockets experiment.  Sadly, they did not work very well.  They definitely work better at Summer Camp when it is warm out, not as much when the mercury drops.  See, there is always something to be learned about Chemistry- even during Halloween!

A special thank you to our hosts the Hudson Valley Renegades, and to our reporter on the scene and newest Chemistry Ambassador, Stefanie at HappyHudsonValley.com

We hope to see more people next year. 

Follow George Ruger on Twitter

Gonsalves: Explore the allure of culinary chemistry | CapeCodOnline.com

Gonsalves: Explore the allure of culinary chemistry | CapeCodOnline.com

*Science is Fun* with a Chemistry Ambassador

My new passion is live tweeting. Not only does it let others following along experience the event in real-time it also makes for an accurate and simple blog post after the event. This particular event was a High School Chemistry Teacher Workshop on Sunday September 30, 2012 in Rochester, NY led by American Chemical Society President Bassam Shakhashiri at the Northeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society #NERM12. The nice part about Regional Meetings is their size and that they are contained in the host hotel. I stopped in the room to say hello to Bassam and to tell him that we are excited to have him coming to our local section (NESACS) for the twelfth consecutive year for National Chemistry Week to deliver the Phyllis A. Brauner Memorial Lecture. I absolutely had to stay for his workshop. I love listening to Bassam talk about chemistry education and outreach.  His enthusiasm is contagious and the energy in the room changes as attendees are mesmerized by his performance and inspired to answer his call to be chemistry ambassadors in their own communities. So I took my seat and listened and tweeted:

Jennifer Maclachlan ‏@pidgirl

At #NERM12 and already found Shakhashiri! #chemceleb#scienceisfun with @gruger04 pic.twitter.com/j3IBvZ1p

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Jennifer Maclachlan ‏@pidgirl

Now on the 2nd floor of the Radisson #NERM12 for Science is Fun demo with ACS President Bassam Shakhashiripic.twitter.com/LbdZJAEs

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Jennifer Maclachlan ‏@pidgirl

*Exhortations for good teaching and the joy of learning* is the title of Shakhashiri's lecture today at #NERM12

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Jennifer Maclachlan ‏@pidgirl

Shakhashiri: good teachers are committed to their disciplines and to the profession of teaching #NERM12

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Jennifer Maclachlan ‏@pidgirl

Shakhashiri: in everything that you do be humane and humanitarian.

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Jennifer Maclachlan ‏@pidgirl

Shakhashiri: dedicated vol 5 Chemical Demonstrations to Ron Perkins because when Ron was in the classroom he was a good teacher.

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Jennifer Maclachlan ‏@pidgirl

Ron Perkins is the 2012 ACS Helen Free Award winner for his public outreach of science. Shakhashiri: Ron coined *elephant toothpaste* demo

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Jennifer Maclachlan ‏@pidgirl

Shakhashiri: teaching is a calling. #NERM12 Science is Fun teacher workshop.

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Jennifer Maclachlan ‏@pidgirl

Shakhashiri: What's the point? Convey attitude, spark interest, display phenomona.

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Jennifer Maclachlan‏@pidgirl

Shakhashiri in the #NERM12 labcoat and safety goggles speaking to the subject of chemical safety. pic.twitter.com/AgvQASkY

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If you are in the Boston area and would like to attend Bassam Shakhashiri's interactive lecture and chemical reaction demonstrations join us at the Museum of Science Sunday October 28, 2012. Lectures are at 1pm and 4pm. Here is the event information. Here is an overview from the Museum of Science website. Hope to see you there.

Check out my Chemistry Outeach board on Pinterest.