HMWlWIIIIWtilWM OBITUARY
without the solid phase," says Svetlana Mojsov, a research associate professor at Rockefeller University who did her graduate work with Merrifield. Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Merrifield grew up in California. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a B.A. in chemistry in 1943 and a Ph.D. in biochemistry in 1949. carbohydrates and other organic A year later, he moved to New molecules. York City to work as a research assistant at what became Rockefeller Merrifield cut synthesis time University. In 1957, Merrifield from years to days by anchoring became an assistant professor; by the first building block of the 1966, he was a full professor. He protein to a polymer. Previously, was named John D. Rockefeller researchers synthesized proteins in liquids. In 2003, the Journal of Jr. Professor in 1983 and became the American Chemical Society listed emeritus nine years later. Merrifield's classic 1963 paper, in Equally devoted to science as which he first described the solto his large family, Merrifield is id-phase-synthesis technique, as survived by his wife, Elizabeth, the fifth most cited paper in the a biologist who worked in his journal's 125-year history lab; one son and five daughters; and 16 grandchildren.—RACHEL "We can do things today that PETKEWICH would be completely impossible
NOBEL LAUREATE MERRIFIELD DIES Rockefeller University biochemist 'revolutionized' peptide synthesis
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OBERT BRUCE MERRIFIELD, A
biochemist who won the 1984 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for a method he named solidphase peptide synthesis, died on May 14 following a long illness. He was 84. The Nobel committee that bestowed Merrifield's prize called his method "simple and ingenious" and noted that it has greatly advanced research in biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology, and medicine. In recent years, the method has been adapted for oligonucleotides as well as
Merrifield
REPORT
PLANT SECURITY Study calls for funding R&D on inherently safer chemicals and processes, safer storage
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SECURITY Analysts have identified the chemical industry as a prime terrorist target.
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C&EN
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MAY
29,
2006
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUN-
cil (NRC) report on vulnerabilities in the chemical supply chain recommends that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) support research to beef up chemical storage and monitoring and promote the use of inherently safer chemicals and processes. T h e report was released by N R C on May 25 after delays because of DHS concerns about whether it should be classified.
NRC spokesman Bill Kearny says, "Nothing was changed in the report based on DHS's review." The study was requested by DHS's Science & Technology Directorate, which sought advice on the best way to invest in R&D to better secure the nation's chemical infrastructure against a terrorist attack or catastrophic accident. Security analysts have fingered the chemical industry as a prime terrorist target. The NRC report stresses that it is best to nip toxic releases at the source rather than control them after the fact. To that end, it suggests that DHS support R&D to encourage the industry's adoption of cost-effective inherently safer chemicals and processes.
Examples of safer chemistries include process intensification and just-in-time manufacturing. Modifications to processes could include reducing the amount of hazardous material used, substituting a safer chemical for a more toxic one, and lowering the temperature and pressures required. The report finds that inherently safer chemicals and processes are used within the industry, but not widely. One reason: Many of the advances needed to develop practical options to current practices are basic and therefore not proprietary. At present, there is little economic incentive for industry to fund such research, so the report suggests that government either invest in research or provide financial incentives to encourage industry to do so. On the storage of chemicals, the NRC study suggests that DHS invest in longer term research directed at improving the safety and security of chemicals stored at fixed facilities or in transport.— LOIS EMBER
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