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Chemistry

Analytical chemistry

Projects/Programs

Displaying 76 - 100 of 139
Figure showing four components of metabolomics with samples and processing

Microbial Metabolomics

Ongoing
Mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy are widely used and complementary analytical platforms for the characterization, identification, and quantification of a metabolome. MS techniques, typically coupled to chromatography, provide a chemical fingerprint of complex
MMQAP figure

Micronutrients Measurement Quality Assurance Program (MMQAP)

Completed
The MMQAP supported the long-term (months to years) reliability of selected fat- or water-soluble vitamin measurements in human serum and plasma. Results from the comparison studies helped participants to make accurate clinical and health-care decisions as well as to maintain and improve their
Graphic of a erlenmeyer flask containing tilled soil, a green leaf, and yellow wheat.

Molecular Innovation in Agriculture

Ongoing
Plant science and breeding aim to develop new plant phenotypes with desired qualities, increased production, disease resistance, and traits that reduce water usage. At the federal level, plant research is conducted by the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Agricultural
Two-dimensional chromatogram showing the separation of four compounds as shaded elliptical areas

Multidimensional Chromatography

Ongoing
The development of robust analytical methods remains one of the most important (and costly) parts of chemical metrology. The separation of targeted constituents from other components in a sample matrix is necessary for accurate and precise measurements. Multidimensional chromatography is an

Multiplexed "Detectorless" Electrophoresis

Completed
Intended impact: In the biological sciences, there is an increasing need for measurement tools that can provide high-throughput, high-quality data (consider drug discovery and systems biology, for example). Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is fast, requires only small amounts of sample and reagents

Nanotube Metrology

Completed
Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are a tubular form of carbon consisting of a single shell of sp2 bonded carbon with a nanometer scale diameter that have many predicted properties superior to other available materials. However, every production technique for SWCNTs produces many different
Carbon Nanotubes imaged via Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscope.

Nanotube Quality Control

Completed
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is widely used to gather data on nanotube chemistry. By monitoring weight loss as a function of temperature, one can determine decomposition kinetics and use this data to closely approximate the distribution of impurities present in a few milligrams of material

NCNR DAC and CCUS efforts

Ongoing
Objectives To advance US competitiveness in Direct Air Capture (DAC) and Carbon Capture, Usage, and Sequestration (CCUS) Use advanced neutron scattering techniques to understand the adsorption process for the most promising materials for adsorption-based carbon capture and provide avenues to
Photograph of an automobile at an emissions testing station, with testing equipment and probe positioned at the car tailpipe.

New Gas Standard Reference Materials to Support the Automotive Industry

Completed
NIST currently supports AIGER members by maintaining reasonable inventories of required gas SRMs that consist of dilute mixtures of key pollutants such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitric oxide. Newer vehicles produce lower levels of these pollutants because their engines

The NIST Chemistry Webbook

Ongoing
Intended Impact It is part of NIST's mission to distribute Standard Reference Data to scientists, engineers, educators, and the general public. The NIST Chemistry WebBook is intended to help fulfill NIST's mission by distributing such data over the Internet. Objective Develop a web site
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
AdobeStock_496492664

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
NIST PS1

NIST PS1 Primary Standard for quantitative NMR (Benzoic Acid)

Completed
With explicit SI linkage, the overall impact of this apical reference material is profound—this primary standard, as well as forthcoming members of its class, provides technology transfer of chemical purity realization to the commercial sector for characterization of many thousands of organic
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
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
Reference Measurement System for Urine Albumin

NIST Urine Albumin Standardization Program

Ongoing
Kidney disease is a major global economic and public health issue, with chronic kidney disease (CKD) representing one of the top 10 most prominent causes of death worldwide. The public health and economic impact of CKD and other kidney diseases has led to the need for the accurate detection of
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

Open Port Liquid Interface Mass Spectrometry

Ongoing
Rapid screening for chemical traces of explosives and narcotics is widely used to support homeland security and law enforcement. These target compounds span a range of physicochemical properties from organic to inorganic, with preferential ionization pathways in both negative and positive mode
fentanyl

Opioid Detection and Identification

Ongoing
Safe Handling Fentanyl can be 100 times stronger than heroin. Even deadly street drugs contain very small amounts of fentanyl, so it can be difficult to detect with methods used for other common drugs. NIST researchers developed a method sensitive enough to detect fentanyl on the outside of drug
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