In the analytical separations laboratory, along with gas chromatography, other approaches used for achieving separations are solution chromatography, distillation, ex­traction, and zone melting. This area also carries out con­

trolled degradation of unknown materials to isolate frag­ments. Also contained in this area are vacuum racks for handling gas samples and preparing known mixtures of gases for calibration

Olin Consolidates Research Activities

LABORATORY OF THE MONTH

T H E Olin Research Center is located in New Haven, Conn., near Yale University. The Center, opened

formally in March, consists of two research buildings. One is devoted to metallurgical research. In the other, the company has consolidated all its research activities in organic and inorganic chemicals, packaging films, fuels and propellants, explosives, firearms and ammuni­tion. Pharmaceutical and biological research for Olin's Squibb Division is carried out a t The Squibb Inst i tute for Medical Research in New Brunswick, N.J .

Approximately 750 people are employed at the Olin Research Center, including 600 scientists, engineers, and technicians.

All areas of chemical analysis are handled by a uni­fied Central Analytical Services, Research, a group of 64 people. This analytical group serves the research de­par tments of all divisions of the corporation a t New Haven—Chemicals, Organics, Metals, Packaging, and Winchester-Western. The group also supplies analyt i ­cal services, generally of an investigative nature, to various Olin plant, sales, and research personnel.

The Analytical Depar tment is composed of four main sections: wet organic, instrumental, analytical separa­tions, and inorganic analysis.

The wet organic section consists of a service group to provide day- to-day volumetric and gravimetric analyses for operating organic chemical research groups, and a research group to develop methods for new chemical sys­tems, identify by-products, and chemically elucidate some of the systems with which the Analytical Depar t ­ment is concerned. This section also performs funda­mental research in the area of wet methods.

The instrumental section provides service and per­

forms applied and fundamental research in the areas of absorption spectroscopy, X- ray diffraction, microscopy, electroanalysis, cryoscopy, mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, and general instrumentation.

The analytical separations section provides service and performs applied and fundamental research in the areas of distillation, gas chromatography, extraction, so­lution chromatography, ion exchange, and zone melting.

The inorganic section services the chemical and metal­lurgical research laboratories with wet and instrumen­tal inorganic analyses. The instrumental analyses in­clude spectrographic emission (including flame photome­t r y ) , X- r ay fluorescence, and electroanalysis.

The Analytical Depar tment operates as an integrated unit, so tha t the entire "analyt ical tool k i t " is applied to the various jobs to be done. Analytical project lead­ers are assigned to each research program. These men select the analytical approaches to be used and coordi­nate the results obtained from each analytical area. They consult with the analysts and chemists (or engi­neers) involved with the programs, formulate conclu­sions as a result of these discussions, and write the final reports. Project leaders generally supervise diverse analytical areas and research analysts in various groups.

The analytical work servicing the plants consists pri­marily of method development and trouble shooting (to explain loss of yields, drop in quality, unexpected by­products) . For the sales departments, it consists of analysis of competitor products and customer service.

This unified organization and use of the entire coordi­nated "analytical tool k i t " makes for the most conclu­sive results, in the shortest time, with the lowest capital and operating costs.

VOL. 33, NO. 9, AUGUST 1961 · 8 5 A

Absorption spectroscopy facilities, in­cluding infrared, ultraviolet, and vis­ible, are available to all the research departments. Calcium fluoride and cesium bromide optics are provided for specialized work. Also provided are specially constructed cells to handle reactive materials and cells to follow rapid reactions as they occur

Nuclear magnetic resonance is used in steroid and other pharmaceutical re­search. It is also used in the high energy fuel and organic chemical research areas. The approach yields information as to the position of protons, fluorine, and boron atoms in chemical materials

High energy fuel research utilizes mass spectrometry to elucidate struc­tures of chemical materials under study. The instrument is also used to determine the gases contained in metal samples, the nature of welding atmospheres, and qualitative and quantitative analysis of organic chem­ical systems

Laboratory of the Month

Viscosity measurement is a very necessary determination in any area concerned with polymers. Olin's work in cellophane, polyethylene, oil additives, polyethers, polyurethane foams, and other experimental poly­mers leans heavily on this approach

Gas chromatography is part of the analytical separations laboratory and is used in all areas of research. Conventional systems are used to follow organic re­search reactions. Programmed temperature chromatography is used to resolve systems containing both low and high boiling components. Flame ionization de­tectors are used where trace components are concerned

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VOL. 33, NO. 9, AUGUST 1961 · 8 7 A