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Feb. 8, 1999 -- Some of this week's stories
'Gregar extractor' makes common chem-lab
device obsolete
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The most useful inventions often spring from solutions to small problems encountered during the pursuit of larger ones. A case in point is a new device that promises to render obsolete a standard device used in virtually every high school, industrial and university chemistry laboratory in the world.
The new device performs one of the chemistry lab's most basic day-to-day activities: it extracts chemicals from a solid and places them in a liquid, the form needed for most chemical analysis. And it does so more efficiently, more reliably, and usually faster than the Soxhlet extractor, which has been the chemist's workhorse for this task since the middle of the 19th century. The new device, called the Gregar extractor, also eliminates many of the operational problems associated with the Soxhlet extractor and performs chemical extractions that a Soxhlet extractor simply can't do.
The Gregar extractor was invented by scientific glass blower Joe Gregar and chemist Ken Anderson (both CHM).
"The Gregar extractor is elegantly simple," Anderson said, "essentially just allowing a liquid to find its own level. But it's a useful tool for chemists, something that's going to make extractions a lot easier."
Already, the Gregar extractor has advanced Anderson's research by making it possible to complete extractions he could not have done before. In fact, the driving force behind the Gregar extractor's invention was a problem Anderson encountered while using the Soxhlet extractor.
Anderson studies the natural processes that convert decayed plant life into coal. A key step in his research involves the analysis of amber, naturally formed fossil resins that provide a chemical snapshot of the plant decay process. Anderson used a Soxhlet extractor to remove compounds from amber for analysis. But amber swells when exposed to solvents, and the swelling creates problems for Soxhlet extractors.
The Soxhlet extractor carries out a series of cycles, with solvent vapor rising into the sample chamber, condensing, dripping over the sample and collecting at the bottom. When the liquid rises to a certain level, it automatically siphons out, and the process begins again.
But the cyclical process can create problems, particularly with samples, such as amber, that tend to swell and break up when soaked with solvent.
To overcome these problems, Anderson went to his colleague Joe Gregar, a fourth-generation, master scientific glassblower. Over the ensuing eight months, they designed and hand-built a series of components and prototypes, each one coming a bit closer to solving Anderson's problems. The result is the "Gregar extractor" -- a major advance in chemical extraction technology.
The Gregar extractor improves on the conventional extractor in a number of ways. It uses a porous glass "frit" instead of filter paper and replaces the cyclic siphoning action with a continuous solvent flow. In addition, redesigned glass arms and two new valves allow the Gregar extractor to perform extractions that are impossible with a Soxhlet extractor.
It can also make extractions faster. "We can't say the Gregar extractor is always faster than the conventional extractor," Anderson said, "because extraction time depends on the specific sample. But we can say it's never slower."
Two new valves make the Gregar extractor more versatile than any other extractor on the market.
"By opening and closing the valves appropriately, you can extract liquids from liquids," Anderson said, "something you could never do with a Soxhlet extractor. One setting lets you perform extractions from liquids that are denser than the solvent, and another lets you work with liquids that are less dense. There's no other extractor out there that can do all this."
Nor have Anderson and Gregar stopped with just one version. So far, the co-inventors have produced two different configurations of their basic extractor, both fully developed and demonstrated.
The potential market for the new apparatus is huge: Most chemistry labs around the world have several Soxhlet extractors on hand. Argonne has licensed the new technology to Kontes Glass Co. of Vineland, N.J. Development of the Gregar extractor was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Research, Basic Energy Sciences, Chemical Sciences Division.
Just how significant is this invention? Anderson and Gregar acknowledge that their creation is simply a tool -- but a highly useful one to chemists.
It has no disk drives or serial ports, no microchips or gauges or wires. It doesn't even have an "On" switch. Most of the materials and techniques required to build it were developed before Anderson and Gregar were born. Yet this simple, streamlined device seems destined to make every chemist's job easier and to put Gregar's name in every chemistry laboratory in the world.
-- David Baurac andFloyd Bennett
Note:To purchase Gregar extractors, contact Kontes Glass Co. at (800) 223-7150.
TIAA-CREF's satellite teleconference on "Reaching Your Financial Goals: Tips from America's Experts" is now available on video cassette at both Argonne sites.
In the national conference, a panel of experts answered financial questions from the audience.
Panelists included Jane Bryant Quinn, columnist and author of "Making the Most of Your Money," Peter L. Bernstein, noted economist and author of "Against the Gods: The Remarkable Story of Risk," and Elissa Buie, president-elect of the Institute of Certified Financial Planners.
Employees may borrow this video by calling Human Resources at ext. 2-2989 at Argonne-East or check it out at the library at Argonne-West.
Tickets go on sale Monday, Feb. 8, for a performance by the Carmina Quartet at Argonne-East Saturday, Feb. 13.
The concert, sponsored by Arts at Argonne, will begin at 8 p.m. in the Advanced Photon Source Conference Center Auditorium (Building 402).
The quartet will present the world premiere of the work "Quartinen der Vergänglichkeit (1998-1999)." The work was commissioned by the quartet as part of a project to mark the approaching turn of the millennium. The quartet will also perform selections by Beethoven, Berg and Brahms.
The concert is open to the public, and no special permit is required to enter the site. Tickets cost $18, and will be sold in the lobby of Argonnne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria the week of Feb. 8 from noon to 1 p.m.
Remaining tickets will go on sale at the Auditorium Box Office at 7:30 p.m. the day of the performance.
Pre-concert dinner
A special pre-concert dinner will be offered at the Argonne Guest House restaurant.
Dinner hours will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The cost will be $21.75 per person.
Reservations are requested; call (630) 739-6000.
Scientist Orlando Auciello (MSD) was recognized at the 1998 Materials Research Society Fall National Symposium for outstanding contributions to the society.
Auciello was one of the three first invited volume organizers for theMRS Bulletin, the society's publication. He helped organize the collection, prepared a theme and arranged for editors and guest contributors.
At the same conference, Alan Krauss (MSD-CHM) and Jaemo Im (MSD), a postdoctoral student working with Auciello, won a Silver Medal Student Award for the paper, "Studies of Degradation Processes in SrBi2Ta2O9 (SBT) Thin Film Capacitors During Hydrogen Gas Annealing Using Mass Spectroscopy of Recoiled Ions and Complementary Techniques."
The research has implications for the development of non-volatile random-access memories being introduced in the market for "smart cards."
Matt Elliott (TD), will present "Getting Back Into the Swing of Things -- A Golfer's Guide to Preseason Preparation," a free workshop, on Tuesday, Feb. 9.
The workshop will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in Argonne-East's Building 360, Room L119.
Elliott, a professional golfer with a two handicap, will be leaving the laboratory in March to become an assistant pro at Prestwick Country Club in Frankfort. He will demonstrate:
A
30-minute strength and flexibility training program designed
to add distance and accuracy.
How to
develop a putting touch on carpet.
Drills
for practicing indoors.
The
latest golf training aids.
A question-and-answer period will follow the demonstrations. Those planning to participate in the exercises should dress in loose-fitting clothes.
There will be a drawing at the end of the workshop for a pair of door prizes donated by a local golf store.
For more information, call Matt Elliott at (630) 789-0225.
Helen M. Berman, director of the Protein Data Bank at Rutgers University, New Jersey, will speak on "Our Vision for the New Protein Data Bank," at a special colloquium on Thursday, Feb. 11.
The talk will begin at 4 p.m. in Argonne-East's Building 203 Auditorium. Refreshments and discussion will follow the presentation, which will be co-hosted by the Office of the Director and the Argonne Women in Science and Technology program.
Berman, a structural biologist, is a professor in the Department of Chemistry and a member of the Waksman Institute at Rutgers.
The Protein Data Bank (PDB) is a repository of data that gives researchers a single source of information about biological structures, and is a critical tool for unlocking the secrets of biological systems in pharmaceutical and medical research.
Berman directs the Nucleic Acid Database Project, and has been a leader in the national and international Macromolecular Crystallographic Information File effort.
Argonne's Women in Science and Technology (WIST) steering committee has openings for two representatives from the laboratory's staff of women technical employees.
The group's charter includes recommending a WIST program initiator to lead the laboratory's efforts to recruit, retain and promote women. The committee also provides guidance during the initiator's two-year term and evaluates the WIST program's effectiveness.
Interested employees should send a resume to steering committee chairperson Joe Asbury (OTD) by Friday, Feb. 26. Members about to rotate off the committee and former members may apply.
The Argonne Amateur Radio Club will host a free SKYWARN training program Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. in Argonne-East's Building 951 (Argonne Park recreation building).
Presented by a National Weather Service meteorologist, the program will cover severe weather spotting and tornado identification.
Upon completion of the program, participants may apply for severe weather spotter certification.
SKYWARN is a collection of volunteer weather spotting groups around the country working in conjunction with National Weather Service Forecast Offices.
All employees are welcome. For more information, contact Richard Konecny (HEP) at ext. 2-6597, or send e-mail to rsk@hep.anl.gov.
The Argonne Guest House Restaurant will host a Mardi Gras celebration on Monday, Feb. 15 and Tuesday, Feb. 16, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The special menu will include New Orleans-style entrees like fried catfish, jambalaya, oven roasted monkfish and pecan coated redfish.
Office computer software will be the subject of several classes offered during February and March by Electronics and Computing Technologies.
Unless otherwise specified, classes will be held in Argonne-East's Building 221, Room A142, are limited to eight participants and cost $135. Complete class descriptions and schedules are available online. For information about enrollment procedures, call Diane Cavazos (ECT) at ext. 2-7153 or send e-mail to dkcavazos@anl.gov.
Intermediate Windows 95 (ECT305) -- Tuesday, Feb. 16, 8:30
a.m. _ 11:30 a.m., and Tuesday, March 16, 8:30 a.m. _
11:30 a.m. Prerequisite: Introduction to Windows 95.
Word 97:
Working with Long Documents (ECT356) -- Tuesday, Feb. 16,
1:30 p.m. _ 4:30 p.m. Prerequisites: Introduction to Windows
95 and Basic Word 97 Skills.
Basic
Excel 97 Skills (ECT340) -- Wednesday, Feb. 17, 8:30 a.m. _
11:30 a.m.
Intermediate PowerPoint 97 (ECT343) -- Wednesday, Feb. 17,
1:30 p.m. _ 4:30 p.m. Prerequisite: Windows 95 and
Introduction to PowerPoint 97.
Introduction to Access Version 97 (ECT332) -- Thursday, Feb.
18, 8:30 a.m. _ 4:30 p.m. Cost: $195. Prerequisite:
Introduction to Windows 95.
Beginning Unix (ECT564) -- This class consists of two,
three-hour sessions for a total of six hours. First Session:
Tuesday, March 2, 9 a.m. - noon. Second Session: Thursday,
March 4, 9 a.m. - noon. Class size is limited to seven.
Cost: $245.
Introduction to Windows 95 (ECT300) -- Tuesday, March 9,
8:30 a.m. _ 11:30 a.m.
Basic
Word 97 Skills (ECT338) -- Tuesday, March 9, 1:30 p.m. _
4:30 p.m. Prerequisites: Introduction to Windows 95.
Excel
97: Improving Worksheet Appearance (ECT341) -- Wednesday,
March 10, 8:30 a.m. _ 11:30 a.m.
Advanced
PowerPoint 97 (ECT360) -- Wednesday, March 10, 1:30
p.m. _ 4:30 p.m. Prerequisite: Windows 95, Introduction to
PowerPoint 97 and Intermediate PowerPoint 97.
Intermediate Access 97 (ECT333) -- Thursday, March 11, 8:30
a.m. _ 4:30 p.m. Cost: $195. Prerequisite: Introduction to
Access 97.
Visual
Basic for Access 97 (ECT344) -- Friday, March 12, 8:30 a.m. _ 4:30
p.m. Cost: $195. Prerequisite: Advanced Access.
Word 97:
Applying Formatting (ECT339) -- Tuesday, March 16, 1:30 p.m.
_ 4:30 p.m. Prerequisite: Introduction to Windows 95 or
Basic Word Skills 97.
Excel
97: Working with Large Worksheets (ECT348) -- Wednesday,
March 17, 8:30 a.m. _ 11:30 a.m.
Introduction to PowerPoint 97 (ECT342) -- Wednesday, March
17, 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Prerequisite: Windows 95.
Advanced
Access 97 (ECT334) -- Thursday, March 18, 8:30 a.m. _ 4:30
a.m. Cost: $195. Prerequisite: Intermediate Access 97.
Orville L. Lowery, a maintenance mechanic II in Plant Maintenance, died on Aug. 3 with 21 years of service. His wife Marvis survives him.
Edwin J. Maloy, a fabrication group leader in the Central Shops Division, died Sept. 29 with 31 years of service. His wife Anne survives him.
Allan E. Martin, a chemist in Chemical Engineering, died July 19 with 21 years of service. He is survived by his daughter Linda Haggerty.
James A. Nelson, a senior computer operator in the Applied Mathematics Division, died on Nov. 6, 1997, with 32 years of service. He is survived by his son James.
George W. Parker, an engineer in the Chemistry Division, died Sept. 7 with 22 years of service. He is survived by his son Glen.
Kenneth S. Parrott, a mechanical engineer with Plant Facilities and Services, died Sept. 4 with 13 years of service. His wife Melba survives him.
Leo A. Reycraft, a plant engineer in Plant Operations, died June 11 with 24 years of service. He is survived by his son Leo.
Herbert V. Ross, an associate laboratory director with 25 years of service, died Nov. 20. He is survived by his daughter Nancy L. Holum.
Joseph Shimkus, a chief draftsman with Design Engineering Services, died Nov. 27 with 22 years of service. He is survived by his wife Dorothy.
Robert L. Stockley, an engineering assistant with Accelerator Research Facilities, died Oct. 7 with 22 years of service. His wife Rovena survives him.
Donald S. Webster, an associate division director in the Chemical Engineering Division with 13 years of service, died Sept. 11. He is survived by his wife Rebecca.
Edward W. White, a maintenance mechanic I with Plant Facilities & Services, died Oct. 17 with 33 years of service. His wife Margaret survives him.
