While participating at the National Association of Scientific Materials Managers Conference in Norfolk, we had some great questions come up - we wanted to take a moment to address the general questions here (some of the more specific questions we'll be addressing in e-mails).
Q: We're trying to offer our students multiple chances to run thin
layer chromatography experiments, but we want to control costs, what can you recommend?
A: We would recommend trying our scored glass-backed plates. As you can see in the photo here, a 20 x 20 cm plate can be easily snapped into smaller (2.5 x 10 cm) sizes.
Q: Why did you decide to color your HPLC Columns?
A: Excellent question! In addition to the fact that we use an advanced packing material that provides close to 100% coverage inside the columns, we realized that traditional columns can be easily mixed up if their labels come off. By color-coding the columns, you always know what material you have inside the column.
Q: We LOVE the video you did and we want to share it with friends, family, and colleagues - where is it available online?
A: We're proud of our video, "The Adventures of Ana L'Tech" - it's been featured on numerous web sites and blogs, and has even been inducted into the Viral Marketing Hall of Fame.
Click Here for the official video web site, Click Here for the YouTube version, or just watch it right here:
NAOSMM 2011 will be held in Minneapolis - Heather McCollor of Macalester College will be one of the hosts for us and here she shows us what to expect there.
One of the great things about trade shows and conferences is connecting with educators and find out how they are using chromatography in the classroom.
At the NAOSMM conference we were thrilled to talk with Paul Weller, Science Laboratory Manager at Elon University's Department of Chemistry.
In this video, Weller explains how he uses Thin Layer Chromatography in the classroom.
The Annual Conference of the National Association of Scientific Materials Managers (NAOSMM) is one of the more unique shows we get to attend.
In this video, Heather McCollor of the Macalester College Chemistry Department explains what makes the gathering special for her and her colleagues:
It's always great to hear from satisfied customers - at the NAOSMM show in Norfolk, Virginia, we heard from Todd Wincek of the Chemistry Department of Middle Tennessee State University, who told us about why he likes to work with us:
The National Association of Scientific Materials Managers 37th Annual Conference is underway in Norfolk, Virginia.
Here's a quick look at Day 1 from Booth 51:
Last week's post about our company's LEAN Journey has led to a great new connection, namely Karen Wilhelm.
Karen did an excellent job chronicling her discovery of this blog, our connection, and her plans to visit us in the fall - click here to read the full account.
We're just days away from the 2010 NAOSMM Conference in Norfolk, Virginia.
Last year's conference in Idaho was phenomenal - we made several new friends and strengthened numerous bonds.
If you are coming to this year's NAOSMM conference in Norfolk, please come by BOOTH 51 to say "Hi" and let us know if there's anything we can do to help in your chromatography needs.
If you are not able to join us in Virginia, please check back here for updates and/or follow us on Twitter.
Our Company started working with the Delaware 
Manufacturing Extension Partnership (DEMEP) in January of 2009 to see where we could streamline procedures, operate more efficiently, and make ongoing improvements.
Anyone who has embarked on a Lean Journey knows that it is an ongoing process with new tools and concepts to consider on a regular basis.
Thanks to this partnership, we've been able to produce our quality Thin Layer Chromatography plates more efficiently, improve our ordering system, and move to a four-day work week.
This week, our partners at DEMEP are working with us to explore more ways to make improvements to our system.
We just thought this might be a good opportunity to take a trip back in the time machine that is video to show some highlights of our first session with DEMEP:
Chemical and Engineering News has a report about a new Chemical Research in Toxicology paper that outlines how 
Thin Layer Chromatography is used to differentiate between a potent carcinogen found in diesel exhaust (3-nitrobenzanthrone or 3-NBA) and 2-NBA, which is largely the product of a nitration reaction that happens spontaneously in the atmosphere.
Here's an excerpt:
The team incubated each isomer with DNA and a variety of enzymes, and then used thin layer chromatography to determine the extent to which the DNA had been altered. Because 2-NBA did not form potentially harmful DNA adducts, the researchers determined that it is not a substrate for enzymes that activate 3-NBA toward DNA. In experiments with intact human liver cells, 3-NBA again generated DNA adducts, whereas 2-NBA did not.
Click Here to read the article.