picoSpin™ Benchtop NMR Spectrometer from Cole-Parmer

Introducing the picoSpin^™ Benchtop NMR Spectrometer from Cole-Parmer―a true breakthrough in chemical instrumentation! Researchers and educators now have access to a revolutionary benchtop NMR spectrometer.

The 45-MHz picoSpin spectrometer resolves proton chemical shifts with a resolution of 100 parts per billion using a very small sample volume of less than 20 microliters. Liquid samples are simply injected into an internal capillary via front-panel fittings.

 “We have engineered an innovative and disruptive technology that changes the NMR spectroscopy landscape. With its low price, compact footprint and true spectroscopic capability, the picoSpin-45 spectrometer enables applications that could not be considered in the past,” said John Price, Ph.D., president and chief scientist of picoSpin, LLC.

The picoSpin-45 NMR Spectrometer is a finalist in the Science & Medical – Diagnostic Aids category, one of twelve categories honored by the Edison Awards.

The complete liquid-phase proton NMR system includes permanent magnet, transmitter, receiver, data acquisition, programmable pulse sequencer, Ethernet interface, and intuitive web-based control software.

A sign needs to be quickly seen and easily understood to make the maximum impact. You know exactly what message needs to be conveyed by the signs in your facility. Now you can design your own customized signs by following these easy steps:

1. Choose the sign material that best meets your application.

• Adhesive Vinyl—this flexible, 4-mil pressure-sensitive material is ideal for your low-cost, lightduty applications.
• Plastic—this medium-duty, general-purpose, 0.055″-thick polyethylene material is perfect for indoor and sheltered outdoor locations.
• Aluminum—this 0.040″-thick material offers the strength of metal but without rusting. The surface is overlaminated to protect from splashes and dirt for long-term outdoor exposure.

2. Select OSHA or ANSI header if required to designate the severity of the hazard.

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Glassware washing techniques vary from lab to lab and can depend on the soil type inside the glassware, types of glassware and technique required by the laboratory’s standard operating procedure.

The three types of glassware washing we’ll look at are hand washing, residential dishwashers and laboratory glassware washers.

Hand WashingHand washing requires an acid or base wash, rinse or soak which can be performed in plastic tubs. This method requires appropriate disposal of both acids and bases after washing is complete. Hot, soapy water can also effectively clean soiled glassware. A final rinse in purified water or tap water usually completes the process. In most cases, hand-washing water will reach 120ºF maximum, requiring sanitization or sterilization to be done in an autoclave. For drying, the glassware can be hung on a drying rack, placed in an oven, or dried manually. This process is time consuming and sometimes requires a dedicated person to hand wash the glassware.

Automatic Residential DishwashersAutomatic residential dishwashers are another option sometimes employed when washing lab glassware. The initial investment is much less than an instrument designed for lab use and its features are not as durable or as flexible. The interior is generally plastic or stainless steel designed to handle basic food, soil and beverages, not chemicals and contaminants found in a laboratory. The baskets are designed for domestic plates, cups, bowls, glasses, pots and pans, rather than narrow neck glassware, culture tubes, flask, beakers, and other specialized glassware used daily in the laboratory. Basket inserts for lab utensils are also not available. Expect the manufacturer’s warranty to be void when used for purposes other than residential settings.

Automatic Laboratory Glassware WashersAutomatic laboratory glassware washers are designed to clean all types of lab soil, from light to heavy, and offer features and accessories for a broad range of lab glassware and contaminants. A washer with a high heat option is best for cleaning heavy and difficult to remove soil such as waxes, oil or agar. For more soluble soil, high heat is not required. If flasks, graduated cylinders and other narrow-neck glassware are to be washed, a spindle rack option should be considered.

The interior of a lab washer must be designed to prevent damage to the washer from residual exposure to basic laboratory chemicals. Stainless steel chambers withstand traces of the every day chemicals used in a laboratory. Internal components, including the detergent cup, seals, pumps and other plastic and rubber components, have been carefully chosen to withstand chemicals as well as the high heat conditions inside the washer.

Another feature usually incorporated into a laboratory glassware washer is an optional purified water rinse. If pressurized purified water is not available, a separate pump may be required. Some washers include a separate pump to introduce purified water into the chamber, eliminating the need to buy it separately.

HEPA filtered forced air drying, which traps dirt, lint and other particulate contaminants from the air, should be considered if your research is sensitive to this type of contamination. Also, an RS232 port, to communicate wash conditions to a printer or computer, is available on some models if validation is required.

Pipette inserts allow the effective washing of pipettes in various sizes. The attachment forces water and detergent deep inside the pipettes assuring cleanliness. Other inserts for specific types of glassware such as culture tubes, media plates, DNA sequencing plates, and BOD bottles are readily available.

Automatic washer detergents formulated specifically for laboratory washers can meet specific needs. There are a wide variety of detergents — phosphate-free, chlorine-free, surfactant-free and non-ionic or ionic. These detergents leave no residue on the glassware so they are safe for sensitive applications such as tissue culture or instrumental analysis. Some laboratory washers automatically dispense liquid detergent and weak acid neutralizing rinse solutions. This eliminates the need to manually fill the detergent cup and rinse dispenser before each use. Using a built-in pump, the washer automatically meters the precise amount of detergent and acidic rinse solution into the washer at the appropriate cycle.

To determine the best washing system for your lab, an analysis should be done to calculate your potential daily cost of hand-washing vs. the cost of buying and using an automatic glassware washer. Information such as the amount of time spent per day hand-washing glassware, costs of labor, electricity, water, and detergent, types of glassware and how much of it — all should be included in the analysis. Once all the costs are calculated and compared, you can decide if the purchase of an automatic glassware washer provides a logical payback and consistent results. It’s working hard or working smart.

Published with permission from Jenny Sprung, Senior Product Specialist, Labconco Corporation

View our complete selection of laboratory glassware or laboratory glassware washers.

Full article can be found at http://www.coleparmer.com/techinfo/techinfo.asp?htmlfile=glass-handVSmach.htm&ID=934&referred_id=5618

Cleaning the tanks is also a simple task. Initially, Dom thought the absence of a bottom manway would be a problem. However, Dom says “for the price of a bottom manway on a stainless steel tank, that you may only use a few times a year, the price isn’t worth it.”

Here’s how they handle the cleaning. They do a lot of whole fresh fruit (other than grapes) that they crush into the tanks. The fruit ferments on the pulp. “After fermentation we rack the wine into clean tanks and merely tip the tanks over and scoop out the pulp (pomace). This takes 15 minutes with another 10 minutes to wash out the tank with hot water and a splash of bleach (chlorine)”. They also use a 6 foot stainless 2” pipe attached to their wine hose and pump to draw out the bottom wash liquid. Some people are concerned about flavor pick up from the plastic. Dom says “There is absolutely no flavor pick up. If there were our customers would tell us. Last year we produced 3500 cases of wine for our first year of business, including wine for 6 other wineries. No one had any complaints. Of about 10,000 visitors to our winery last year only a handful commented on the tanks in a negative manner. Once we told them of the benefits of the tanks they became converts to plastic.”  In summary, polyethylene tanks can give wineries savings in tank costs over stainless steel and the portability can reduce the number of buildings required. Snyder’s high density linear polyethylene tanks are also molded from 100% FDA approved materials and are safe for storage of food products.

Complete Selection of Cone Bottom Tanks
Complete Selection of PIE 520 Thermocouple Simulators
Complete Selection of Polyethylene Tanks

Published with permission from Snyder Industries Inc.

For workplace settings, the spreading virus threatens to interrupt business, create a loss in production, and debilitate the workforce due to many employees falling ill at the same time. As the flu season moves into the winter months and holiday gatherings bring staff members into closer contact, the potential for greater transmission—and more absences—increases.

Typical H1N1 flu symptoms include fever or chills, cough or sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting. The 2009 H1N1 flu, like the seasonal flu, may worsen underlying chronic medical conditions.

According to Janet Napolitano, United States Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, preparedness is the best antidote to public health threats such as H1N1, especially in the workplace. To safeguard your staff, consider the following strategies:

Safety

• Provide resources that promote hygiene, including hand sanitizers, disinfectants, disposable towels, and more, that work to keep surfaces clean.
• Review policies for sick leave and communicate the policies to employees. Emphasize flexibility, allowing workers who have the flu to stay home and away from other workers. Also, plan to have workers stay home if they are caring for a sick family member.
• Consider telecommuting as an option for employees who are equipped to continue their work from home.

Business Operations

• Prepare business continuity plans to cope with absences and maintain productivity. Some health officials may advise “social distancing,” or increasing the physical space between people to decrease frequency of contact and stem the spread of the virus.
• Identify key roles required to maintain operations and key communicators for assignments and functions that may need to be filled by backup personnel. Also, select a staff member to assist those who may become ill.
• Establish an emergency communications plan to put into effect if needed. This should include a list of who is responsible for communicating business status updates both internally and externally.

General Communications

• Keep employees informed about how to prevent the spread of the virus, what symptoms to look for, and how to protect themselves. Encourage workers to get the seasonal flu vaccine and the 2009 H1N1 vaccine when available.
• Share policies and plans with employees so they are aware of your expectations. Prepare ways to communicate with employees who do not speak English or those with disabilities.

Staff members can take an active role in maintaining their health by washing their hands frequently (with soap for 20 seconds or with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer), avoiding touching their nose, mouth, and eyes, and covering their coughs and sneezes with tissues. In addition, keeping work surfaces, including telephones and computers, clean and avoiding using coworkers’ phones and computers will help prevent the spread of the virus. Of course, a healthy lifestyle including proper diet, rest, exercise, and relaxation is a significant catalyst to maintaining overall health.

Check out all of these cool safety preparedness products from Cole-Parmer