And Wheelco Instruments, division of Barber-Coleman, woerking on the de tection end of chromatography, showed its new ionization detection system. With a capillary column, the system approaches sensitivities of ΙΟ1"* moles; it can obtain theoretical efficiencies of over 200,000 theoretical plates, Wheelco claims. • Moisture Advances. Water in jet fueis has been oicunexj foî" many jet engine flameouts ajicl subsequent crashes. Consolidated Electrodynamics has responded to this problem with a process control d e v i c e t o measure moisture in hydrocarbon and other plant streams. It u s e s an clcctrolyticcoulometric technique. This method involves stripping the moisture from the liquid stream by a counter current flow of a gas such as nitrogen and subsequent dissociation of tiie water. Moisture levels as low as o n e p.p.m. can be measured on a potentioroetric recorder or receiver. • Infrared Activity. In the infrared field, Perkin-EIme?r added a new instrument the Model 221. to its line. This is a double b^am, automaticrecording infrared spectrophotometer. Among its features i s an automatic gain system which inspires a "live" pen under minimum energy conditions, says P-E. And it has a program scanning speed system which provides optimum speed for a given resolution. The 221 scans a spectral range from 1.0 to 15.5 microns; with standard NaCl optics, from 0 . 5 to 38 microns with other available prisms and assemblies. P-E prices thie instrument at $14,700. Elsewhere in the spectrometer field, Baird-Atomic brought out its Research
Direct-Reading Spectro^rapn. 1 his is an emission spectrograph designed for research lab use. An analysis takes one minute and results are recorded either photographically or by a direct reader, acording to the operator's wishes. Price: about $30,000. • Cfher N e w instruments. Elsewhere in the analytical field, Ε. Η. Sargent developed a new polarograph -1~„:
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called the Model XV and is the fourth polarographic instrument in the company's line. It sells for $1585. Fisher Scientific also worked over its polarographic equipment, came up with a redesigned Electropodc. The unit sells for $1700. Laboratory Equipment has an oxygen analyzer for almost any organic compound, acording to Leco. Time required is about 10 minutes per organic compound, compared to about an hour with the established Untersacher method. Also new to Leco's line is a vacuum fusion instrument for analysis of oxygen in titanium. It was developed by Titanium Metals, and Leco will make it under an exclusive license. N e w accessories for Varian Associates* EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) spectrometer system push the instrument into the biologist's and biochemist's range of interest. One accessory holds specimens under study at temperatures from - 1 9 6 ° to 300° C. The other varies temperature over the same range. A cavity to hold these units is slotted to permit irradiation with ultraviolet or visible light. Thus, says Varian, the EPR system can be used to study photochemical reactions.
GETTiNG THE WORD» Pexkin-Elmer salesmen gather at the company's instrument display booth, g e t answers to any questions they may have at an orientation session before the Pittsburgh equipment show opens and the crowd flocks in
Suspect Color List Grows FDA cites seven D & C colors as possibly hcrrnfui; lipstick makers hardest hit U E V E N more certified coal tar colors are under the guns of the Food and Drug Administration. Toxicity studies in animals by FDA point to the colors as being potentially dangerous. Delisting as certifiable for use in drugs and cosmetics which may be taken internally is a possible consequence. At an informal meeting in Washington, F D A spelled out the b a d news t o representatives of the drug and cosmetics industries and color manufacturers. FDA's actions so far are only preliminary; future steps, if forthcoming, would include publication of intent to act in the Federal Register, with opportunity for public hearings. The colors under the cloud of suspicion are: D&C Orange No. 5 and No. 17; D&C Red No. 9, 10, 19, and 33; D&C Yellow No. 7. N o n e of the colors may be used in foods, but ail are now usable in drugs and cosmetics which may be taken internally. A survey by Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association shows several drug firms use considerable quantities of D&C Orange No. 5; 24 drug companies use D&C Red No. 3 3 in more than 125 products; nine companies report use of D&C Red No. 19 in about 15 products. The survey turned u p little or no pharmaceutical use of D&C Red No. 9 and 10, D&C Orange N o . 17, and D&C Yellow No. 7. A spokesman for the Toilet Goods Association says several of the colors are widely used in cosmetics. D&C Red No. 9 and 19 find wide use in lipsticks, with D&C Orange No. 5 and 17 also involved. D&C Yellow No. 7 and D&C Red No. 33 are of only limited interest in the cosmetics field. FDA points out its findings result from short term animal studies, with long term studies yet to be completed. But the evidence shows the seven colors can't be classed as harmless under the present law, which labels a substance harmful if toxicity shows u p at any concentration. Government tests show several of the colors are quite toxic at a concentration around 2%—far above use levels usually found in drugs or cosmetics. There is considerable agitation for a law that would allow F D A to set tolerances for additives such as coal tar colors. • MARCH
9,
1959
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