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Material Measurement Laboratory

Chemical Sciences Division

Projects/Programs

Displaying 76 - 100 of 114
photo collage of meats, cheese, eggs, fish, and shellfish

NIST Food Safety Program

Ongoing
The Food Safety Program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides advanced analytical chemistry and quantitative biology to ensure that food is free of contaminants and allergens and is authentic, promoting U.S. manufacturers’ participation in domestic and foreign markets
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NIST Ocean Carbon Measurements

Ongoing
NIST is committed to sustaining the quality of ocean carbon measurements by developing capabilities to provide certified reference materials for the ocean carbonate system measurements and by conducting research to understand fundamental elements of the ocean carbon thermodynamic system. NIST Ocean
Photograph of the NIST Standard Reference Photometer showing the component modules consisting of optical bench with sample and reference tubes, ozone generator module with controls and tubing, and control module with numeric LED displays.

The NIST Standard Reference Photometer for Ozone Measurement Traceability

Ongoing
The concentration of ozone in the atmosphere continues to be an important global issue both scientifically and politically. Stratospheric ozone protects the Earth from harmful UV radiation, while tropospheric ozoneis a major health concern and contributes to global climate change as a greenhouse gas
Evolution of Flat-histogram Monte Carlo Simulation

NIST Standard Reference Simulation Website

Ongoing
Molecular simulations, in particular Monte Carlo Molecular Simulation and Molecular Dynamics Simulation, are methods for computing the properties of some kind of system, for which the intermolecular interactions are specified via mathematical relationships derived from statistical mechanics. Since
Cannabis

NIST Tools for Cannabis Laboratory Quality Assurance

Ongoing
Since the 1970s, cannabis (marijuana and hemp) and its constituent, Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, have been classified as Schedule I controlled substances. Seized evidence is tested by forensic laboratories, which verify the identity of the plant through macro- and microscopic evaluation and the
Photograph of hundreds of gas cylinders in a gas storage facility.

NIST Traceable Reference Material Program for Gas Standards

Ongoing
The Gas Mixture SRM, NTRM, and EPA Protocol Programs provide a mechanism to produce needed calibration gas standards with a well-defined traceability. These mixtures are specified in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to calibrate instruments to be used to monitor regulated emissions. The NTRM
NPS Data Hub

Novel Psychoactive Substance (NPS) Data Hub

Ongoing
A growing portion of forensic drug laboratory’s workload is the identification of novel psychoactive substances (NPSs), or emerging synthetic drugs (ESDs), presented as exhibit materials after seizure events. A pressing need exists for the rapid characterization of both the active ingredient(s) and
]: Photograph of two vials containing human milk Standard Reference Materials.

Organic Contaminants in Human Serum, Milk, and Urine

Ongoing
SRMs have been developed to support quality assurance measurements for contaminants in human fluids. Biomonitoring laboratories will use these SRMs to validate methods and as control materials for specific analyses. We have developed and characterized several human-matrix SRMs for organic
Photo montage with images of a sea turtle, sea lion, whale, and dolphins.

Pacific Marine Mammal Health Assessments (PMMHA)

Ongoing
Pacific Marine Mammal Health Assessments (PMMHA), which began in Fall 2010, are an expansion of NIST marine mammal health assessment collaborations that began in 2002 with bottlenose dolphin wild populations. NIST has a history of involvement in marine mammal health assessment related work
Photo montage showing fill the airplane with fire-fighting foam, a spilled glass of wine on the tablecloth. Cleaning clothes and furniture from stains, Discarded Fast Food Wrappers Littered on Ground, wateproof jacket with water droplets on it. Jacket using the gore-tex technology.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

Ongoing
Perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) constitute a family of compounds that are distinguished by partial or complete fluorination of alkyl hydrocarbons. Dubbed “forever chemicals”, the unique chemistry of PFAS imparts a high level of stability, making the compounds resistant to

Plasma Process Metrology

Ongoing
Intended Impact The model for rf bias effects that we have developed should make it easier for industry to select optimal operating frequencies and may stimulate the adoption of new methods for RF biasing, such as multiple-frequency bias and non-sinusoidal bias. NIST studies of electrical endpoint
Graphic of a globe where the land is light green and the water is light blue. In the Atlantic Ocean portion, there is a graphic overlay representing the breakdown of megaplastics to nanoplastics. Black text wraps around the globe. “Plastic Pollution Measurement Science” around the top, and “sources, transport, fate, quantities, impacts, repurposing” around the bottom

Plastic Pollution Measurement Science

Ongoing
Plastic pollution is a complex mixture of various types of plastics with different shapes and chemical additives. From microscopic nanoplastics (as small as 1 nm) to large megaplastics (over 1 m), plastic pollution poses significant measurement science challenges. By developing accurate methods for
Stylized illustration of a DNA molecule with associated figures that denote analytical measurements

Potential Primary Measurement Tool for the Quantification of DNA

Ongoing
The biotechnology industry relies primarily on absorbance and fluorescence methodologies to assess DNA mass. However, these measurements can be seriously compromised by impurities in the DNA preparations or state of the DNA itself. These techniques are also not traceable to the SI because the
Climate Science

Prediction of Global Warming Potential

Ongoing
Goals Use ANN models to fit RF and .OH rate constant data k(.OH). Be able to predict RF, k(.OH), and GWP with reasonable accuracy using readily available information. Create a screening tool based on the ANNs.  Research Activities Improve the performance of rate constant prediction. Compare rate
Nanoparticles labeled infographic. Microscopic element vector illustration.

Reactivity of Nanoparticle Catalysts

Ongoing
Goals: Provide mechanisms for various prototypical electrocatalytic reactions on different metallic surfaces an nanoparticles. Validate the results of DFT calculations versus experimental data. Research Activities: Studying the methanol oxidation reaction on Pt and PtRu surfaces. Studying the effect
Photograph of a long pink flame against a black background, emanating from a torch, with small blue cone near the base of the nozzle.

Real Fuels

Ongoing
The variability of the price of oil, the need for energy efficiency and pollution minimization has led to increasing interest in alternative fuels. These fuels are structurally and compositionally different than the conventional fuels presently used.  Past work on conventional fuels have established
Photo showing the production of Salmon Standard Reference Material

Reference Material Production and Support

Ongoing
Bulk Cryogenic Production Large-batch cryogenic reference materials are produced using a Palla VM-KT Vibrating Cryomill. The mill is pre-cooled to cryogenic temperatures using liquid nitrogen. Frozen material is fed through the inlet funnel to a vibrating chamber containing 26 titanium rods. The
Illustration of the five primary features of STAR software, depicted as a blue star.

Sample Tracking and Analytical Reporting (STAR)

Ongoing
STAR (formerly known as Marine STAR) will develop a web-based interface to provide easy access to sample information from the NIST Biorepository. Information will include, but is not limited to, sample availability, chemical analysis status and results, and links to publications. Metadata associated

Seabird Tissue Archival and Monitoring Project (STAMP)

Ongoing
Seabirds are an important group of upper trophic-level marine organisms with potential for accumulating lipophilic contaminants. Analyses of seabird tissues, particularly eggs, have played important roles in temporal and spatial environmental monitoring of persistent organic pollutants (POPs—e.g
word Thermodynamics on a puzzle pieces

Solvation Thermodynamics

Ongoing
Solvation thermodynamics data are essential in the characterization and interpretation of any process carried out in the liquid phase. The data have application in the study of biochemical processes such as protein folding and protein-protein association in aqueous fluids and are useful as
Photograph of SRM 3103a showing a labeled clear glass ampoule and labeled box against a blue background.

Standard Solution SRMs Provide Traceability for Millions of Measurements

Ongoing
Literally millions of measurements of elemental composition are performed each year worldwide. The vast majority of these measurements depend upon reference materials for establishing traceability of results to the SI. Leveraged through commercial CRM producers, the NIST SRM 3100 series provides an