Canadian Chemical News articles from February 2005

Canadian Chemical News archives from February 2005

Dream jobs on the web.(Guest Column/Chroniqueur Invite)
February 1, 2005... I confess. I am a middle-aged baby boomer who envies the many Canadian engineers, chemists, and technologists who are just coming into the field and are interested in the bioproducts area. Finding that dream job is a lot easier than it was just...

Fathi Habashi.(Universite Laval's professor)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Fathi Habashi, MCIC, is professor emeritus at the department of mining, metallurgical, and materials engineering at Universite Laval in Quebec, QC. He has created a research unit called "Mining and Metallurgical Heritage." The unit is planning...

Green Chemistry.(appointment)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Chao-Jun Li, MCIC, Canada Research Chair (Tier I) in green chemistry at McGill University, has been appointed associate editor of Green Chemistry, a journal published by the Royal Society of Chemistry in the U.K. He will be responsible for...

Robert Ackman.(Distinction)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Robert Ackman, FCIC, has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Section of the American Oil Chemists' Society for his distinguished contribution to the field of lipids. He has an international reputation for his seminal work...

David Boocock.(Distinction)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... David Boocock, FCIC, former chair of the department of applied chemistry and chemical engineering at the University of Toronto was recently honoured by the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association at an event showcasing renewable fuels. More on...

Robie MacDonald.(Distinction)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Robie MacDonald, FCIC, has been inducted into the Royal Society of Canada. He describes himself as an aquatic path ways specialist and notes that his studies have reference to both contaminants and climate change.

In Memoriam.(Albert Stoessl, fellow of the Canadian Institute of Chemists)(Obituary)
February 1, 2005... The CIC extends its condolences to the family of Albert Stoessl, FCIC.

Erratum.(Correction Notice)
February 1, 2005... CSC president 2005-2006, Yves Deslandes, FCIC, was mistakenly featured with the CIC Board of Directors in ACCN Vol. 56, No. 10. He belongs with the CSC Board of Directors on p. 24 of that issue.

More bounce for your buck.(about rubber and its alternatives, lettuce and sunflowers)
February 1, 2005... Sunflowers and lettuce are proving to be more than just pleasing to the eye and the palate. They're both being cited as promising alternative sources of rubber. More than 40,000 industrial products and 400 medical devices are currently...

Science confirms chamomile's curative qualiteas.(chamomile tea )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... A recent study conducted in England confirmed that drinking chamomile tea might help relieve a range of ailments including colds and menstrual cramps. The plant used in the study was German chamomile (Matricaria ecutila), known also as...

Smart materials = fresher food.(food packaging innovations)
February 1, 2005... "Intelligent" product packaging that controls its own passage of air and water is just one example of new small-scale materials being developed by an Advanced Food and Materials Networks' research group. Robert Prud'homme, FCIC, professor...

Undying colour.(causes of yellowing of papers discovered)
February 1, 2005... Researchers in the Mechanical Wood-Pulps Network have unravelled the complex chemistry responsible for one of the paper industry's most serious problems--paper that turns yellow only a few weeks after it is made. The new understanding achieved...

Paper research partnership.(alliance for improving papermaking processes)
February 1, 2005... NSERC announced funding of $1.5 million for two new Industrial Research Chairs in the department of chemistry at McGill University. The industry partner in the initiative is the Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada (Paprican). The...

Canadian chemicals productivity top ranked.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The Conference Board of Canada has released its "Performances and Potential" report. The report includes the latest productivity data showing that the level for Canadian chemical manufacturing continues to exceed its U.S. competitors. Moreover,...

Biofuel pros and cons.(Research Association for Combustion Engines)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... A major review of literature on biofuels has been released by the Research Association for Combustion Engines (FVV) under the title C[O.sub.2] Mitigation Through Biofuels in the Transport Sector--Status and Perspectives. The FVV commissioned...

Chemical sales rise to $24 billion in 2004.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Overall sales of Canadian basic chemicals and resins increased by 14 percent in 2004, when compared to 2003. Operating profits almost tripled in 2004 to $2.1 billion. The 2004 estimates are based on Statistics Canada data for the first nine...

Procyon Biopharma's novel PSP94 binding protein.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Preliminary findings suggest that PSP94 Serum-based immunoassay may be of clinical utility for the detection and prognosis of prostate cancer. Montreal-based company, Procyon Biopharma Inc. has reached an important milestone in identifying...

Canada's first demonstration biodiesel plant.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The president and CEO of Sustainable Development Technology Canada, Vicky J. Sharpe, joined University of Toronto (U of T) researchers at an event to showcase renewable fuel research and to unveil plans for Canada's first demonstration...

Acrobatic archiving.(Chemputing)
February 1, 2005... Essentially, all of today's reports and scientific papers are prepared using a computer. It's easy to forget that widespread access to computers is a new phenomenon. The bulk of the world's documentation is on paper. While everybody talks about...

The gene scene: generating interest in biotech.(Chemfusion)
February 1, 2005... Wow! Look at my DNA!" the exuberant little boy blurted out as he pulled the thread-like strands out of the test tube. Soon other excited voices chimed in as about two dozen children and a sprinkling of adults began to play with their own...

Solid sensors for VOC's based on polymorphic polymers.(Chemical shifts: what's new in chemistry researh? Chemical shifts offers a concentrated look at Canada's latest developments.)( volatile organic compounds )
February 1, 2005... Many solids exist in more than one crystallographic form, or polymorph, which can have significantly different physical properties. Pharmaceutical companies spend a considerable amount of time studying the polymorphic forms of drugs since...

Chirality transfer in the Stille reaction.(Chemical shifts: what's new in chemistry researh? Chemical shifts offers a concentrated look at Canada's latest developments.)
February 1, 2005... In the Stille reaction, an organic group attached to tin is transferred to another organic group with formation of a carbon-carbon bond using catalytic amounts of palladium. In general, the organic group is [sp.sup.2]-hybridized such as a vinyl...

Nano-sized holes enhance Raman and SPR spectroscopy.(Chemical shifts: what's new in chemistry researh? Chemical shifts offers a concentrated look at Canada's latest developments.)
February 1, 2005... When light strikes a metal film that contains a regular array of nanometer sized holes, an interesting and counter-intuitive optical effect is observed. About five years ago it was shown that the amount of light that exits these tiny holes is...

Innovation roadmap on bio-based feedstocks for fuels and industrial products: capturing Canada's natural advantage.
February 1, 2005... "Until the middle of the nineteenth century the demand for lubricants and illuminants was serviced by vegetable and animal oils... But through the invention of various distillation processes, oils suddenly became an interesting commodity." ...

The deoxygenation challenge: turning sugar polyols into a new and renewable resource base for the petrochemical industry.
February 1, 2005... New homogeneous ionic hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis catalysts could offer a pathway for the efficient transformation of renewable naturally abundant sugar poly alcohols to polymer building blocks. Sugar poly alcohols as a renewable...

A changed link: the Ontario Chemistry Value Chain Initiative forms non-traditional alliances to re-invent the Ontario chemical industry.
February 1, 2005... The objective of the Ontario Chemistry Value Chain Initiative (OCVCI) is nothing less than the re-invention of the Ontario chemical industry. The OCVCI vision is to make Ontario a global leader in innovation, environmental sustainability,...

French fries fuel the future: visualize french fries as a solution to the energy crisis ... a hands-on look at the development and implementation of biodiesel fuel.
February 1, 2005... A new project by environmentally aware students may change the way we fuel our cars, save us from the collapse of the oil industry, and clean up the air. All the while, ensuring good quality french fries. There's something new in the air at...

CIC talks to federal government.(Canadian Association of Physicists)(Canadian Federation of Biological Societies )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... As an active member in both the Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) and the Partnership Group for Science and Engineering (PAGSE), the CIC has met with federal MPs and senior bureaucrats for the past three months to voice concerns about the...

Report on the 54th Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference: Energy for the Future.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The 54th Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference took place at the Calgary Marriott Hotel and Telus Convention Centre in beautiful Calgary, AB, October 3-6, 2004. Great weather, breathtaking views of the Rockies, stimulating symposia, and a...

I'll etait une fois dans l'ouest.(One Competitors View Of The Conference)
February 1, 2005... Toute cette histoire a commence un mercredi soir. Je recois un appel d'une amie qui me propose d'aller a Calgary presenter un projet de design sur lequel j'ai travaille en 2003 dans le cadre de mes etudes en genie chimique a l'Universite de...

Sights and scenes from CSHE 2004 in Calgary.
February 1, 2005... 1. Bill Svrcek, FCIC, technical program co-chair, and friends. 2. The heart of downtown Calgary. 3. The "trees" on Stephen Avenue Walk. 4. Calgary skyline over the tree tops. 5. Students strike a pose at the BBQ at Symon's...

CSCT involved in accreditation with CTAB.(Canadian Technology Accreditation Board)(Canadian Society of Chemical Technologists)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The Canadian Technology Accreditation Board (CTAB) is a standing committee of the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists (CCTT), created in 1982 from CCTT's national standards committee. CTAB strives to provide a national...

Forensic tour in Ottawa.(Local Section News/Nouvelles Des Sections Locales)(RCMP Forensic Laboratory Services)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The Ottawa CIC Local Section held a tour of the RCMP Forensic Laboratory Services, 1200 Vanier Pkwy., Ottawa, on November 29, 2004. Interest was high with roughly 40 CIC members from diverse chemical backgrounds participating. Members toured...

Edmonton Local Sections' activities abound.(Local Section News/Nouvelles Des Sections Locales)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The Edmonton CIC and CSChE Local Sections were busy with activities at the conclusion of 2004. Following the E. Gordon Young Lectureship (see ACCN, January 2005) and the 2004 Boomer Lecture Series, Section members participated in lectures, the...

Nominate your faculty advisor/Soumettez la candidature de outre conseiller aux etudiants.(Student News/Nouvelles Des Etudiants)(Public Notice)
February 1, 2005... Reward your advisor's efforts by nominating him or her for the Student Chapter Faculty Advisor Award. Each Constituent Society offers an award (i.e. three awards are given annually, judging is carried out by each Society). You can find the...

Results of the 54th CCEC student competitions.(Student News/Nouvelles Des Estudiants)
February 1, 2005... Undergraduate and graduate student competitions were held at the 54th Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference in Calgary, AB, in October 2004. Here are the final results of these competitions. Undergraduate student competitions ...

CSCT Western Canadian student symposium 2005.(Student News/Nouvelles Des Estudiants)(Calendar)
February 1, 2005... YOUR CHANCE TO BECOME THE EXPERT WHEN: March 18 and 19, 2005 WHERE: SIAST Kelsey Campus, Saskatoon, SK CONTACTS: Shauna Bulmer, MCIC bulmers@siast.sk.ca Scott Sawyshyn sawyshyn@siast.sk.ca Eric Mead, FCIC ...

Canada: conferences.(Events/Evenements)(Calendar)
February 1, 2005... Conferences May 9-11, 2005. 9th Annual Advanced Process Control Appliance for Industry Workshop: APC 2005, Vancouver, BC. Contact: Guy Dumont; Web site: www.ieee-ias.org/apc2005. July 31-August 4, 2005. 18th Biennial Chem Ed...

U.S. and overseas.(Events/Evenements)(Calendar)
February 1, 2005... June 20-24, 2005. 2nd International Conference on Green and Sustainable Chemistry and the 9th Annual Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference, Washington, DC. Contact: Robin Rogers; E-mail: rdrogers@bama.ua.edu. July 10-15, 2005. 7th...

Discovery of the first dinitrogen: complex.(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
February 1, 2005... In 1965, the announcement of "Nitrogenpentammineruthenium (II) Complexes" appeared in the journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications on page 621. Professor Albert D. Allen and graduate student Caesar V. Senoff of the University of...