LABORATORY OF THE MONTH Tomorrow's Products Basic
Household
from
Today's
Research
To MEET keen competition in the fields of soaps, synthetic detergents, cellulose, shortenings, dentifrices, shampoos, and cosmetics, Procter and Gamble has long had a substantial research and developm e n t program, with strong emphasis on basic research. Growth of the company's operations since World War I I created need for considerably more research space. T o carry on its research program, P&G established its Miami Valley Laboratories near Cincinnati in 1952. Growing needs since t h a t date have been m e t by a major expansion of the Miami Valley facilities, completed last year. P&G's research efforts are centered on studying the fundamental behavior and properties of all ingredients and compounds t h a t might conceivably bear on its product line. This research requires utilization of t h e newest techniques, instrumentation, and special facilities. I n t h e expanded setup, provision is made for radioactive tracer studies, high pressure research, a n d controlled temperature and humidity where needed. A wide range of instrumentation is used. I n addition t o t h a t referred t o in the photographs, instrumentation includes flame photometers, recording Titrimeters, microtomes, serigraphs, a n d automatic microdistillation apparatus. Of the more t h a n 400 employed a t the research center, approximately one fourth are graduate chemists and chemical, mechanical, and electrical engineers and one half are laboratory assistants a n d mechanics. Analytical work includes analytical methods research, analyses in connection with basic a n d applied research a n d development and engineering studies, patents, and factory service. The research center is a brick a n d stone two-story and basement building with walls, floors, and roof of reinforced concrete. I t is located on a 257-acre t r a c t and occupies 177,000 square feet
A measurement of the breathing o f skin after it is washed with an experimental detergent is made with a W a r b u r g respirator
The service laboratory provides analyses for research and development studies. Most known methods of analysis are used, ranging from conventional titrimetric and gravimetric methods to the newest instrumental techniques VOLUME
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53 A
LABORATORY OF THE M O N T H
Efficient isolation of individual constituents of complex mixtures is facilitated by countercurrent solvent separations Crystalline phases in soap, shortening, and inorganic constituents are determined by x-ray spectrometry
of floor space. In addition to the laboratories, and a 70 by 190 foot pilot plant area, there are a glass shop and a machine shop. The building also includes facilities for hundreds of test animals, auditorium, recreation room, conference rooms, self-service storeroom, kitchen, and employee dining room. A cool water well, rather than refrigeration, is used in the air conditioning system. The laboratories feature service lines which feed into the bottom of each wall and serve laboratories on both sides. The wood shelves are treated to make them resistant to laboratory chemicals. The laboratory doors are recessed so that when fully opened they extend only a few inches into the hallway. Another safety feature is a fiber board wall panel at the end of each laboratory to serve as an escape hatch. Safety showers in corridor walls are triggered by a foot treadle. The radioactive laboratory uses combined lead and steel shielding, stainless steel work surfaces, hoods coated with a strippable plastic, and a separate air exhaust system which traps any radioactive dust. 54 A
The polarograph is used for rapid determination of oxidizable and reducible compounds
Asphalt tile flooring, ceramic wall tile, and fluorescent lighting characterize the 24 X 1 1 foot laboratory units. The research center has 1 52 such laboratories, each served with gas, air, nitrogen, and hot, cold, and distilled water ANALYTICAL
CHEMISTRY
