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Chemistry

Molecular characterization

Projects/Programs

Displaying 1 - 21 of 21
Interior view of a long, multistory scientific facility filled with large tubular guides, elevated walkways, and electronic instrumentation.

Advanced Materials Characterization

Ongoing
This program seeks to continually enhance the analytical competence of MML and other major operating units at NIST. Furthermore, the program makes available technical capabilities that U.S. industry and government need in their quest to compete on a global scale through improving methods and
Bioman lifecycle

Biomanufacturing Initiative

Ongoing
The objective of the NIST biomanufacturing program is to support US biopharmaceutical industry delivery of high quality and low cost protein drugs around the world. The mission is fulfilled through the development of standards, measurement science, and state of the art tools that support advances in
Photograph of a unit of SRM 3950 showing a labeled box and two frost covered amber bottles.

Clinical Measurements Quality Assurance Program

Ongoing
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) established the Clinical Measurements Quality Assurance Program (ClinQAP) to support the measurement needs of the clinical community. Participants measure concentrations of marker compounds, contaminants, metabolites in clinical samples (e.g
Dietary QAP

Dietary Supplement Laboratory Quality Assurance Program (DSQAP)

Ongoing
Approximately 75% of the U.S. population takes dietary supplements, including vitamins and mineral supplements, representing an annual expenditure of more than $20 billion. Regulations, driven by reported cases of inaccurate labeling, adulteration, contamination (with pesticides, heavy metals, or
Photograph of SRM 2378 Fatty Acids in Human Serum showing three vials labeled Serum 1, Serum 2, and Serum 3.

Fatty Acids in Human Serum and Plasma Quality Assurance Program (FAQAP)

Completed
Interlaboratory comparison studies of the FAQAP focused on the measurement of 24 fatty acids in selected serum and plasma matrices. Frozen or freeze-dried serum or plasma samples were sent to laboratories for analysis together with control materials. Results were returned to NIST for data evaluation
Food Nutrition Safety QAP

Food Nutrition and Safety Measurements Quality Assurance Program (FNSQAP)

Ongoing
As part of a revamp of QAPs in 2021, NIST established the FNSQAP to support the NIST Food Safety Program and Measurements and Standards to Support Nutrition Labeling. Participants measure nutrient components (e.g., minerals, vitamins, fatty acids, dietary fiber) and contaminants (e.g., toxic

HDX-MS for Biopharmaceutical Analysis

Ongoing
I ntended Impact This project is designed to improve, test, and validate hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) metrology for the determination of dynamical properties of therapeutic proteins and glycoproteins. Objectives Explore structure-function relationships between glycan
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

Macromolecular Architectures

Ongoing
This project’s purpose is to synthesize and characterize model thermoplastics, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), and mixed resins with systematic variation of polymer sequence, chemistry, and architectures to generate libraries of quantitative structure-property relationships validated by multiple
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

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
Image of a fentanyl mass spectrum shown in a lab notebook

NIST and the SWGDRUG Mass Spectral Reference Library of Seized Drugs

Ongoing
Synthetic drugs such as fentanyl and its analogues are driving an unprecedented epidemic of overdose deaths in the United States. Clandestine labs create these new substances in part to evade law enforcement. This places a major burden on federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to
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
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
Platform for Realizing Integrated Molecule Experiments

Platform for Realizing Integrated Molecule Experiments (PRIME)

Ongoing
Blackbodies realize a clear relationship between radiated power and temperature through Planck’s law. While a reliable instrument for temperature and power calibrations, blackbodies are afflicted with a plethora of systematics (e.g., non-ideal emissivity, propagation loss, temperature gradients
Materials Extrusion Additive Manufacturing

Polymer Additive Manufacturing and Rheology

Ongoing
We are measuring the fundamental processes and material parameters that are critical to understanding and furthering polymers-based AM. These efforts will aid the AM ecosystem through better online monitoring capabilities and developing strategies for materials optimization. In situ measurements of

Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry Ion Source Development

Ongoing
In SIMS, a typical analysis requires <1% of the surface to be sampled, which minimizes chemical damage in the form of molecular fragmentation due to energetic ion bombardment. Cluster sources such as C 60 and Ar GCIB allow for efficient removal of the damage volume, and by operating the analysis and

Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

Ongoing
ToF-SIMS is an imaging mass spectrometry (MS) technique that allows us to obtain isotopic, elemental, and molecular information from the surface of solid samples. A pulsed, energetic “primary” ion beam bombards the surface and induces a collision cascade, liberating “secondary” ions that are then
Photograph of SRM 972a Vitamin D metabolites in Frozen Human Serum showing a labeled box and four bottles labeled level 1 to level 4.

Vitamin D Metabolites Quality Assurance Program (VitDQAP)

Completed
Interlaboratory comparison studies of the VitDQAP supported the reliability of vitamin D measurements, including determination of 25-hydroxyvitamin D2, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, and 3- epi-25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in human serum and plasma. Results from the comparison studies helped participants to make