To bring attention to the need for alternative biofuels, the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) has a new tool to drive education efforts inAmerica. NBB member, CIMAGreen, partnered with Paul Teutel Sr. and Orange County Choppers to craft a high-performance diesel motorcycle that they then donated to the NBB as a promotional resource. “People are drawn […]
Innovatech Labs Blog Post Archive
FTIR Analysis for Problem Solving
Sometimes chemical reactions are happening in places you wouldn’t expect, causing problems that weren’t anticipated. Researchers at North Carolina State University have discovered how fat, oil and grease (FOG) can create hardened deposits in sewer pipes, contributing to overflows. These overflows, in turn, may cause environmental and public safety issues, leading to costly repairs and […]
GC/MS Discovery: Mayans Used Tobacco
It may not come as a surprise to you that Mayans used tobacco. The history of the Americas depicts Indian sects in a variety of smoking rituals. We have pictorial evidence that the Maya smoked tobacco in large pipes or a crude form of our modern cigar. This discovery, however, is the first time it […]
Infrared Spectroscopy Testing From Mars!
In 1877, Italian astronomer, Giovanni Schiaparelli, was making telescopic observations of Mars when he discovered what appeared to be natural features of the Mars surface which he called “canali,” an Italian word meaning “channels.” This term was mistranslated into English as “canals.” Over time, a myth grew that Martians existed who built these canals. Ever […]
Headspace Analysis and Blood Alcohol Test Errors
As any forensic scientist knows, human error can account for inaccurate information, resulting in a flawed interpretation. In cases involving drunken driving, where the blood alcohol content (BAC) of the driver is requested, defense attorneys have been known to challenge what’s called the headspace analysis. Headspace gas chromatography (GC) is a way of separating volatile […]
Gas Chromatography: To Infinity and Beyond
Imagine yourself working in a space station on Titan, Saturn’s largest moon. You’ve just taken some soil and atmospheric samples and are sending them “overnight” to our lab for analysis. They will then be injected into our gas chromatograph for GC/MS testing. Sounds like an exciting phase of your career! This science fiction scenario is […]
FTIR Analysis Sampling Techniques
The explosion in the growth of technological applications incorporating new materials and covering a range of industries from nanotechnology to photovoltaics has created consequent growth in the need for FTIR analysis and testing for organic materials. Materials characterization measures the range of wavelengths absorbed by a material such as crystals, polymers, composites, liquids and liquid […]
Resource Materials to Learn More About FTIR
If anyone ever doubted that FTIR analysis is a lifetime study, he or she hasn’t scanned a life sciences or chemistry research library lately. With the advent of the Internet, much of what was once only available in print form is now available in an online and digital format as well. Following is a breakdown […]
CSI Miami Meets Minnesota’s Forensic Chemists
When we hear the term “forensic science,” we often think of the popular CSI crime shows. CSI stands for “crime scene investigation.” But, did you know that chemists, biologists and researchers all are involved with investigative chemistry and forensic analysis across industries? Manufacturers stand to lose millions of dollars in lost time and product if […]
Quality Control Testing Method: Ion Chromatography
Often, manufacturing isn’t finished when a product leaves the production line. Many products – for example, biomedical devices, electronics, and plastics– still have to be tested for cleanliness and contamination. And, sometimes, ion chromatography is the only technique that affords the necessary quantitative ionic cleanliness analysis. Ion chromatography (IC), also called ion exchange chromatography, is […]
