News An Industry-Wide Problem-Solving System A plant-wide analytical program in operation at Italsider's T a r a n t o steel works in Italy not only ensures product quality control, but also is concerned with water and air pollution problems at the steel works site. This steel-making effort is the world's second largest integrated operation, meaning t h a t all processes from iron making in blast furnaces through steel making to finished product rolling mills are combined in one location. Science and Industry, 7, 1976, published by Philips Scientific and Industrial E q u i p m e n t Division in Eindhoven, includes three articles in 19 pages dealing with the analytical problemsolving aspects of the operation. T h e first article gives an overview of the plant's operation with an emphasis on the analytical methods used and the location and role of t h e analytical laboratories in the company's operation. All incoming raw materials are analyzed as are the finished products. Specific problems in adapting emission and x-ray fluorescence methods to these types of samples are solved with ingenuity. T h e company has even developed its own set of 35 standards and a mathematical model to secure reliable results with these techniques, even though the incoming samples are so diverse and interelement effects come into play. Sample handling and the requirements for homogeneity of samples are solved by the use of remelting furnaces in sample preparation. Pollution problems are solved by such varied means as the use of "col-
lars" to control and concentrate oil film on water for cleanup to building a hill to protect the nearby city of Taranto from air pollution. T h e second and third articles in this publication give details of the x-ray fluorescence analysis of iron ores and sinters and on the remelting techniques used for metal samples slated for x-ray or emission spectrometric analysis.
Ecological Baseline Data One of the most important needs in the environment area is for so-called baseline data to provide a measure useful in assessing the environmental impact of industrial or mining projects. In a study supported by the Federal Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) and a consortium of electric companies led by M o n t a n a Power Co., trace elements in soil, plants, and animal tissues in an area where new strip mines will be opened will provide baseline data. A major part of the study is the measurement of elements t h a t are often emitted in quantity by coal-burning power plants and can be toxic to plants and animals. These include sulfur, zinc, cadmium, copper, manganese, lead, and nickel. Frank M u n shower, research associate at Montana State University's experimental station, is directing this research. T h e research team plans to use atomic absorption spectrophotometry to determine these elements in soils, in plants such as native grasses and ponderosa pines, and in animals including insects, game birds, rodents, big-game animals, and cattle. They will use whole-animal samples and samples of selected tissues such as liver and kidney. T h e researchers plan to use Varian's AA-6 spectrophotometer plus the company's Model 63 carbon rod atomizer. T h e latter will permit measurem e n t of the low concentrations of some of these metals t h a t can be expected. T h e planned new strip mines will provide coal for four mine-mouth power plants whose combined capacity by 1982 will be 2250 MW.
Call for Papers
Semiconducting crystal assembled atomic layer by atomic layer by molecular beam epitaxy resembles a highly polished mirror. Display on background screen is of an electron microscope image of an ultrathin layered structure, magnified about two million times, grown by the new process
Fifth International Conference on T h e r m a l Analysis Kyoto, J a p a n . Aug. 1-6, 1977. T h e conference is organized by the International Confederation for T h e r m a l Analysis in cooperation with the Society of Calorimetry and Thermal Analysis of J a p a n and the J a p a n Society for the Promotion of Science. T h e six topical areas to be covered are: theory
and instrumentation; inorganic chemistry; organic and macromolecular chemistry; earth sciences; applied sciences (building materials, ceramics, etc.); and calorimetry, reaction and nonreaction. To obtain the abstract form, prospective authors should contact: T h e Secretariat, ICTA V, c/o Society of Calorimetry and Thermal Analysis, J a p a n , Daiichi Kanamori Bldg., 1-5-31 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113, Japan. Extended abstracts (2-4 pages) will be published prior to the conference in substitution for the proceedings of the conference. Abstracts should be received not later than 15 February 1977. International Conference of X-ray Optics & Microanalysis Sheraton Boston Hotel, Boston, Mass. Aug. 18-24, 1977. Papers are invited on the latest developments in scientific research and industrial applications of x-ray optics and electron microanalysis. In particular, the conference will deal with the following topics: x-ray optics—theory and applications; corpuscular optics—theory and applications; electron microanalysis—theory and quantitative procedures; scanning electron microscopy—theory and applications, channeling, and magnetic and voltage contrast; applications— metallurgical, mineralogical, and biological; and instrumentation—new developments. T h e conference is sponsored by the Microbeam Analysis Society and is coordinated with the Electron Microscopy Society of America. T h e EMSA program will be given Aug. 22-26. Prospective authors should submit two copies of an extended abstract, not later t h a n Mar. 1,1977, to Don Beaman, Program Chairman, Dow Chemical Co., Bldg. 574, Midland, Mich. 48640. T h e conference languages will be English, French, and German. Third International Conference on Ion B e a m Analysis Georgetown University Campus, Washington, D.C. J u n e 27-July 1, 1977. T h e conference is organized by the Naval Research Laboratory and Georgetown University with primary emphasis on new or improved ion beam techniques. Topics to be covered are: energy loss and straggling; backscattering or forward scattering analysis; light element profiling; nonreson a n t and resonant nuclear reactions; ion-induced optical and x-ray emission; channeling studies of crystal surfaces, lattice impurities, and defects; applications of ion beam techniques in combination with other techniques; preparation and use of target stan-
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 48, NO. 13, NOVEMBER 1976 · 1061 A
RAPID REDUCTION - REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLES
News dards; and experimental equipment, including the detection system. Submit abstract, not later t h a n March 4, to Eligius A. Wolicki, Radiation Technology Div., Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375. Papers accepted for presentation will be published in the conference proceedings.
The H/I Swift Rotary Sample Splitter allows unbiased samples to be obtained from bulk material. First pass 6 or 12 fold reduction. Accepts most materials dry or wet to 15 mm diameter.
H I
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HACKER INSTRUMENTS INC. CIRCLE 96 ON READER SERVICE CARD
N i n t h Annual Symposium on Advanced Analytical Concepts for t h e Clinical Laboratory Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, T e n n . Mar. 17-18,1977. Sponsored by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration, and the Academy of Clinical Laboratory Physicians and Scientists. A major theme of the symposium and the title of one of the three scientific sessions will be "Single Cell Analysis". This portion of the symposium will include papers on analytical needs, potential approaches for automated analysis, and recent advances in analysis within single cells. T h e remainder of t h e program will deal with general areas of research and development applicable to various operations of the clinical laboratory. Submit 150-200-word abstracts, not later t h a n J a n . 1, 1977, to Charles E. Scott, Head, Experimental Engineering Section, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P.O. Box X, Oak Ridge, T e n n . 37830.
Meetings
Circular • Very large sample compartment Dichoroism • Easy pushbutton operation turns us on • Measures CD or PM voltage on same chart • Photo (piezo) elastic modulator version also available JASCO Model J-40 Spectropolarimeter measures circular dichroism from either 185 to 700 nm or 185 to 1000 nm with high resolution and extreme sensitivity. Optional attachments make measurement and data processing extremely simple MCD and Low Temperature and micro accessories available.
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CIRCLE 110 ON READER SERVICE CARD 1062 A · ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 48, NO. 13, NOVEMBER 1976
The following meetings
are newly
listed in A N A L Y T I C A L C H E M I S T R Y .
The 1976 and 1977 meetings listed earlier appear in the September and October issues • N e w York Microscopical Society's Dialogues in Microscopy '77 Meeting. May 14-19,1977. Statler Hilton Hotel, New York City. Contact: John A. Reffner, Program Chairman, New York Microscopical Society, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn. 06268. Page 968 A, Oct. • 50th Anniversary of the Discovery of Electron Diffraction Meeting. Sept. 19-21, 1977. Imperial College, London. Organized by the Institute of Physics in collaboration with the Royal Microscopical Society and the Faraday Division of the Chemical Society. Contact: Meetings Office, The Institute of Physics, 47 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8QX, England
