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Material Measurement Laboratory

Chemical Sciences Division

Projects/Programs

Displaying 101 - 125 of 137
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
Fish on a ruler to measure length, about 47 cm from head to tail.

Omics Technological Advances in Aquaculture

Ongoing
According to the NOAA Fisheries of the U.S. report, in 2020 U.S. seafood consumption was estimated at ~6B pounds (~2.7 x 109 kg). Of that, 85% is imported and U.S. exports have seen a significant decline. Globally, the U.S. ranked only 18th in aquaculture production (2020). NIST aims to enhance the
]: Photograph of two vials containing human milk Standard Reference Materials.

Organic Compounds in Human Serum, Milk, and Urine

Ongoing
Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) have been specifically designed to assist in the quality assurance measurements for compounds found in human fluids. Clinical and biomonitoring laboratories rely on these SRMs for method validation and as control materials during specific analyses. Various human
Photo montage with images of a sea turtle, sea lion, whale, and dolphins.

Pacific Marine Mammal Health Assessments (PMMHA)

Completed
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
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
Graphic depicting the complexity of reclaimed and recaptured plastics. Textiles (arm chair, t-shirt, and spool of yarn), plastic containers (jug, rectangular food containers, and bag), and gaoline pump - along with chemical structures surround a globe with the bottom half covered with three buildings and half of a mechanical gear.

Recaptured and Reclaimed Plastic Measurements

Ongoing
Plastics are a complex mixture of various types of polymers with different chemical structures, shapes, and chemical additives. From microscopic nanoplastics (as small as 1 nm) to large megaplastics (over 1 m), plastic poses significant measurement science challenges. By developing accurate methods
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 specialized 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
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 chemical contaminants which have been linked to adverse health effects. Analyses of seabird tissues, particularly eggs, have played important roles in temporal and spatial ecosystem
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 a packaged unit of SRM 2700 Hexavalent chromium in Contaminated Soil (low Level)

Standard Reference Materials for Hexavalent Chromium in Contaminated Soil

Completed
During the last century, chromate and dichromate chemical production facilities processed considerable amounts of chromite ore for industrial manufacturing purposes. The waste material from these operations called chromite ore processing residue (COPR) was disposed of in waste sites across the
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
Breathalyzer

Standards Development to Ensure Reliable Breath Analysis in the Field

Ongoing
Numerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been identified in human breath. These compounds can be produced by the body or by organisms in the body (e.g., bacteria or viruses) and provide a non-invasive window into human health. Inexpensive point-of-care devices are being developed to diagnose
Steroid Hormone Pathway Mapping

Steroid Hormone Suite Analysis

Ongoing
Steroid hormones are signaling molecules that are major regulators of development, reproduction, stress, and growth. Steroids are synthesized from cholesterol through a series of enzymes, resulting in hormones with distinct biological activities. Although hormones are similar in structure, and

Study of Microheterogeneity in Solid Reference Materials

Ongoing
Presently there are a variety of analytical techniques that are served by few or no reference materials due to the small sample sizes they require. NIST currently certifies solid reference materials at or above the 100 mg mass level in most cases with no mention of the effect of using smaller sample