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Material Measurement Laboratory

Chemical Sciences Division

Projects/Programs

Displaying 51 - 75 of 135
Circle with the logo of Health Assessment Measurements Quality Assurance Program initials

Health Assessment Measurements Quality Assurance Program (HAMQAP)

Completed
Participants in the HAMQAP measured concentrations of nutritional and toxic elements, fat- and water-soluble vitamins, fatty acids, active and/or marker compounds, and contaminants in samples distributed by NIST.   Samples that represent human intake (e.g., foods, dietary supplements, tobacco) were
Illustration with a stylized representation of an atom with electron orbits superimposed on a colorful periodic table of the elements.

High-Precision Isotopic Reference Materials

Ongoing
A new generation of multi-collector IRMS, utilizing both inductively coupled plasma and thermal ionization sample sources, is now capable of measuring isotope ratios with extremely high precision – a few parts in 10 6. This new measurement capability has caused a minor revolution in the use of
Photograph of the exterior of the Hollings Marine Laboratory (HML), with signs designation the facility.

HML Organic Chemical Metrology Program Areas

Ongoing
The organic analytical facility, located on the second floor of the Hollings Marine Laboratory, consists of two laboratories with a combined area of approximately 215 m2. These two laboratories provide the space and instrumentation to achieve two main functions for NIST: (1) the determination of
Photograph of a weathered metal surface labeled Danger Toxic Fumes

Instrument Standards for Detection of Hazardous Chemical Vapors

Ongoing
Chemical threat detection is a challenging problem. Contaminants must be accurately identified and quantified often in complex mixtures where non-toxic components can often obscure the measurement. Furthermore, highly toxic chemicals are problematic at low concentrations, requiring ultra-sensitive
Map of the world, with six colors used to identify the six regional metrology organizations.

International Comparisons for Chemical Measurements

Ongoing
International agreements and decisions concerning trade and our social well-being increasingly require mutual recognition of measurements and tests among nations. The Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on national measurement standards and calibration and measurement certificates issued by NMIs
Figure with the word “isotope” and related icons superimposed on a photograph of a man pointing to the figure.

Isotope Metrology

Ongoing
The application of isotope measurements drives advances in an enormous number of fields and stakeholder engagements, including federal and state government agencies, academia, and private industry including the medical industry. The objective of the NIST Isotope Metrology Program is to address the
Photograph of a seabird with a spotted turquoise egg.

Isotopes as Environmental Tracers in Biological Specimens

Ongoing
Multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) provides sensitive and precise measurements of stable isotope ratios and can be coupled to a variety sample introduction systems such as laser ablation and gas or liquid chromatography. The versatility and performance of MC-ICP
MLF_EquationofState1

Machine Learning Fluid Equations of State

Ongoing
Understanding the thermodynamic properties of fluids and fluid mixtures is of central importance in many fields of science and engineering ranging from medicine to consumer products. The nature of the particles in a fluid can vary greatly depending on the type of interactions present, e.g., dipole
Illustration with logo style printing: “organic ingredients”, “100% natural”, “100% organic”; “natural ingredients”, and “authentic” centered in bold letters.

Machine Learning to Predict Food Provenance

Ongoing
Adulteration of food and food products is a pernicious problem which is difficult to solve as supply chains and international trade routes become increasingly complex; yet agriculture contributed over $1 trillion to the US GDP in 2017, [1] illustrating the importance of protecting this and related
Multi_Colloidal_Crystals2

Machine Learning to Predict Multicomponent Colloidal Crystals

Ongoing
There is a direct link between a material’s macroscopic properties and its microscopic structure, which makes rational bottom-up self-assembly a powerful tool for engineering properties of materials. In general, colloids are facile material building blocks whose shape, charge, and surface
drawing of hydrogen fuel cell

Measurement Quality in Hydrogen Storage R&D

Ongoing
The hydrogen storage project targets metrologies that assess kinetics and energetics of hydrogen charging and discharging in combinatorial structures as well as the degradation mechanisms that limit life of use. New capabilities are being developed and several existing measurement capabilities are

Measurements and Standards for Botanical Dietary Supplements

Ongoing
Many consumers believe that botanical dietary supplements will improve their health and that these "natural" remedies are both effective and free from the side effects that may occur with other medications. There are occasional reports of inaccurate labeling, adulteration, contamination (with
Photograph showing labeled units of SRM 1649 Urban Dust and SRM 1649a Urban Dust.

Measurements and Standards for Contaminants in Environmental Samples

Ongoing
In 1971 NIST issued the first natural environmental matrix SRM for contaminants, SRM 1571 Orchard Leaves, with certified concentrations for trace elements. The development of SRM 1571 Orchard Leaves formalized the approach of combining results from "two or more independent and reliable analytical
Photograph of a unit of SRM 2668 with labeled box and frozen plastic vials.

Measurements and Standards for Contaminants in Biological (Human) Materials

Ongoing
The development of SRMs to support measurements for contaminants in biological fluids and tissues will expand quality assurance capabilities to important species critical to human health. We will provide SRMs that are representative of the analytical challenges that may be encountered by analysts in
Photo montage with images of a seagull, alligator, sea turtle, and grey seals.

Measurements and Standards for Organic Contaminants in Wildlife Matrices

Ongoing
Monitoring contaminant exposure in wildlife is crucial to assess the impact of environmental contaminants on animal health. The development of methods to screen samples for the presence of new compounds (non-targeted research) and to measure the accurate concentration of known, targeted compounds in
Food Triangle

Measurements and Standards to Support Nutrition Labeling

Ongoing
Well-characterized certified reference materials are needed by laboratories in the food testing and nutrition communities to facilitate compliance with labeling laws and improve the accuracy of information provided on product labels so that consumers can make good choices. As a result of the
MANTA Logo

Method Assessment for Non-Targeted Analyses (MANTA) Program

Ongoing
Typical targeted analysis aims to detect and/or quantify a set of known chemical compounds using specific instrumental techniques (such as liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry). In contrast, non-targeted analysis is an analytical technique that detects, identifies, and/or