98 JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL ATOMIC SPECTROMETRY MARCH 1991 VOL. 6 Conference Reports Fifth Biennial National Atomic Spectroscopy Symposium (BNASS) July 18thD20th 1990 Loughborough UK Do you remember attending or hearing about the Fourth BNASS meeting at York in 1988? Well just when you thought it was safe to go back to an analytical atomic spectroscopy meeting-BNASS 5-the Loughborough meeting! After the traditional welcome to the delegates in the opening ceremony the proceedings gained pace with the first plenary lecture given by Professor Bonner Denton (University of Arizona). Entitled ‘Present applications and future trends in high performance charge transfer device detectors’ the presentation dealt with ap- plications of solid state detector arrays in different branches of both atomic emis- sion and fluorescence spectrometry.Of particular interest were a device for meas- urements in the vacuum ultraviolet region of the spectrum and a device for measure- ments in the X-ray region as a possible replacement for the traditional Si(Li) and Ge(Li) detectors. Those of us who have witnessed slide-changer burn out at previ- ous papers presented by Bonner Denton were shocked to see only two carousels of slides used-he was obviously suffering from jet lag! Following the plenary lecture the Sym- posium was split into two streams for the invited and contributed papers. This lead to some difficult decisions having to be taken and also made it hard as the con- ference report writer to cover all the presentations. In the first invited lectures Dr. R.G. Brereton (University of Bristol) presented a paper entitled ‘The chemo- metric approach to optimization and in- terpretation in atomic spectroscopy’ which dealt with the fundamental aspects of chemometrics while Dr. Trevor Delves (Southampton General Hospital) discussed ‘Clinical and environmental ap- plications of atomic spectroscopy’. This paper included a look at Al Pt and Pb de- termination and also an interesting section on source identification of Pb poi- soning by ICP-MS. A break for refresh- ment ensued and before the next session took place a game of musical chairman occured. The result of this was the unex- pected arrival of Professor Les Ebdon (Polytechnic South West Plymouth) as Chairman in stream B (unexpected for both the delegates and Professor Ebdon). However his arrival was much appreciat- ed by the fashion conscious in the audi- ence as he demonstrated his latest chairmans ensemble including an African shirt in a subtle shade of orange.The re- mainder of the session saw contributed lectures including Dr. I. B. Brenner’s (Jobin-Yvon Lonaumeau France) paper discussing the difficulties of internal refe- rence selection in various solid sample in- troduction techniques into ICP-AES and glow discharges. Dr. John Marshall (ICI Wilton Materials Research Centre Mid- dlesbrough) described the application of laser ablation ICP-MS to the analysis of plastics and P. S. Goodall (Polytechnic South West) used molecular gases to modify ICPs for slurry analysis of refrac- tory materials. Wednesday’s scientific session was completed with a drink and a chance to view the 25 posters covering a wide variety of topics being presented.The relaxed atmosphere proved to be condu- cive to discussion not only about the posters but research in general. In an attempt to show some of the American delegates the more traditional side of the UK and to take advantage of Loughborough’s excel lent sports faci 1 i- ties an impromptu football (or soccer de- pending on your country of origin) game was organized. Although not well attend- Kirkbright Bursary recipients. Chris Hassell ( L ) and Gary MoitltoriJOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL ATOMIC SPECTROMETRY MARCH 1991 VOL. 6 99 A group of delegates with Harp Minhas (centre) obviously enjoying the meeting ed because of the unusual temperatures and/or the attraction of the bar represen- tatives from the research students post- docs academic staff and exhibitors were present.Although the game generated a friendly atmosphere it soon became ap- parent why most of the players had become chemists and not professional footballers. After the physical exertions of the game came the introduction to that other British tradition-warm beer. Thursday’s lectures began with the arrival of a suit clad Professor Les Ebdon to deliver a plenary lecture entitled ‘Plasmas go green the use of plasmas to solve environmental problems’. The lecture reflected on the current interest in environmental analysis and the applica- tion of plasma based spectroscopic tech- niques for trace metal determinations in this area. Of course a lecture by Profes- sor Ebdon would not be complete without the mention of sample introduction by slurry nebulization hydride generation and speciation.After the split into the concurrent streams the first two invited lectures of the day were presented. Professor Jean- Michel Mermet (Universiti Claude Bernard Lyon) considered noise and drift in a paper entitled ‘Internal standard in inductively coupled plasma spectrochem- istry do we need it?’ The long-term sta- bility with respect to several instrumental parameters and their effect on internal standard selection were discussed. The second invited lecture featured Dr. Andy Ellis (Oxford Instruments Oxford) with an informative lecture on ‘Instrumental and calculation methods for improving accuracy and precision in EDXRF spectrometry’ which dealt with the im- provements in accuracy and precision afforded to EDXRF by the develop- ments in computer hardware deconvolu- tion software and pulse processing electronics. Further discussion of these lectures was held over a break for coffee before the six contributed papers of the morning.Of these papers Fraz Mukhtar (Thames Polytechnic London) demon- strated the ability of TXRF to carry out trace level speciation. Chris Hassell (University of Texas Austin) one of the two Kirkbright Bursary recipients both of whom were attending the BNASS meeting showed how static SIMS could be used to study surface reactions in graphite furnaces and Dr. E. B. M. Steers produced some enlightening data on the excitation mechanisms in glow dis- charges.Following the break for lunch we re- turned for a plenary lecture by Professor Bob Michel (University of Connecticut) entitled ‘Laser excited atomic fluores- cence and ionization in graphite furnaces. An overview of instrumentation and real sample analyses for the determination of metals down to the femtogram level’. The technique used conventional furnace tech- nology but with laser enhanced fluores- cence to determine femtogram levels of T1 Mn and Pb. Data were also presented for the determination of fluorine by laser enhanced molecular fluorescence of MgF. From one of the newest techniques under development there followed an overview of atomic spectroscopy and its develop- ment from Dr. John Dawson (DIAS UMIST Manchester) with his invited lecture entitled ‘Analytical atomic spec- troscopy learning from its past’.Alterna- tively Dr. Ernie Newman’s (BDH Poole Dorset) invited lecture ‘Analysis of fine chemicals by atomic spectrometry’ dealt with a wide range of spectroscopic methods used at BDH. The last section of contributed papers for the day included an excellent presentation by Simon Branch (Polytechnic South West) on the determi- nation of As in urine by ICP-MS J. A. Armstrong (Polytechnic South West) on the use of white spirit dilution and DCP- AES analysis of grease additives and Dr. Alan Batho (Thermo Electron Warring- ton) on the simultaneous determination of trace metals in Sn-Pb solder. The final event of the day was the poster session again an informal opportunity to talk to the presenters and also a chance to visit the exhibitors.One well known micro- wave manufacturer was attracting custom- ers by demonstrating the worlds most expensive pop-corn maker! The main social event of the confer- ence occured on Thursday evening-the BNASS conference dinner. Just when we thought we had finished the technical pro- gramme for the day the BNASS Chair- man (Dr. David Hickman Metropolitan Police London) gave an after dinner speech on the use of the antenna in the modem police force-most enlightening. After his critically acclaimed appearance at the R & D topics meeting and various busking spots throughout London Dr. Steve Haswell (Thames Polytechnic/Hull University) was talked into playing his melodeon as part of his 1990 RSC Con- ference Tour. In honour of the Chairman Steve sang a song about hard working and honest policemen followed by several tunes reflecting the international nature of the conference.The perfomance certainly made the evening and I’m sure was being talked about well after the meeting. For those delegates full of party spirit or those filling up with it from the bar the event continued until early the next morning and included a football match at 2.00 a.m. which was enjoyed by the participants but was not as well re- ceived by the occupants of the halls of residence. (I would like to state that Dr. Haswell had nothing to do with this event despite certain rumours-put the cheque in the post Steve!). Fellow survivors of the conference dinner who made it to the first plenary lecture on Friday morning were able to see Professor David Littlejohn (University of Strathclyde Glasgow) present a lecture en- titled ‘The state and status of electrother- mal atomization in atomic spectrometry’.The lecture reviewed the area of ETAAS The highlight of the Conference DinnerSteve Haswell utid his melodeon100 JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL ATOMIC SPECTROMETRY MARCH 199 1 VOL. 6 its development and current research inter- ests. Also discussed was the use of graph- ite furnaces as emission sources either thermally generated emission or excitation by non-thermal hollow cathode discharges within the furnace. Applications using the graphite furnace as a sample introduction device for ICP-AES and ICP-MS were also assessed. The theme of multi-element determinations in graphite furnaces was carried into stream A where Dr.Jim Harnly (United States Department of Agri- culture Beltsville MD) discussed ‘Multi- element graphite furnace atomic spectro- metry the search for photons in the UV’. The lecture was an overview of the re- search carried out at USDA on simulta- neous multi-element atomic absorption with a continuum source (SIMAAC) and furnace atomization non-thermal excita- tion spectrometry (FANES). In the con- tributed papers section Robin Nicholl (University of Strathclyde) described a computer controlled detection system for simultaneous multi-element determina- tions in AAS and AES based on optical fibres and PMTs. Finally in this section Gary Moulton (University of Maryland) the second Kirkbright Bursary recipient detailed a multi-element ETAAS system with a pulsed xenon arc lamp source with detection limits comparable with conven- tional ETAAS.The final session of the conference on Friday afternoon had been organized with the plenary lecture as the final presenta- tion presumably to minimize delegate fall-out during the afternoon so the session began with invited lectures. Dr. John Carroll’s (ICI Chemicals and Poly- mers Runcorn) presentation ‘Applica- tions of atomic spectroscopy in the chlor- alkali industry’ discussed the analysis of saturated brines by ICP-OES and ICP- MS. ‘Automatic hydride generation from alkaline solutions’ by Dr. Ragner Bye (University of Oslo Norway) considered the generation of volatile hydrides from neutral and alkaline media rather than the acidic solutions normally used.In the last series of contributed lectures Stephen Offley (Loughborough University of Technology) showed how Cu interferenc- es could be removed on-line for the deter- A weary organizing committee at the end of the meeting L to R Colin Watson. David Hickman Judith Egan. John Marshall. Ste\pe Hill and Harp Minhas mination of Se. Dr. I. B. Brenner suggest- ed the occurrence of particle-plasma in- teractions during slurry nebulization of refractory compounds in ICPs and Dr. Mike Foulkes (Polytechnic South West) discussed matrix enhancements from cali- brants and slurries in ICP-AES. The final contributed paper come from the master musician Dr. Steve Haswell who in an alternative to slurries suggested the use of on-line microwave digestion using a continuous-flow system.This seemed ap- propriate as the final plenary lecture from Dr. Skip Kingston (NIST Gaithersburg) entitled ‘Sample preparation for atomic spectrometric analysis’ dealt with the standardization of microwave dissolution procedures and the development of a computer controlled digestion system with a pseudo-learning ability. The final act of the meeting was for Colin Watson chairman of the session to present awards for the best student poster to A. T. Ince and in a long tradition of prizes for Polytechnic South West the award for best student oral presentation went to Simon Branch. For those remaining in Loughborough on Friday night one last social event was organized-a steam train journey where once again Dr. Haswell was persuaded to play and the Editor of a well known journal was seen stoking the boiler (I bet those photos don’t get published ! ).Finally on behalf of the delegates I would like to thank the organizing com- mitte and also as a former bursary recipi- ent I would like to thank ASU BDH and ICI for funding of this year’s bursaries without which I am sure some of the stu- dents would not have been able to attend. For those of you who missed this meeting the sixth BNASS will be held in 1992 and to the football players remember to bring your shorts. Phil Riby USDA NCL Beltsville MD USA Federation of Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy Societies (FACSS) XVII October 7th-I2th 1990 Cleveland OH USA The stark contrast between grey London and the rich autumn colours of Cleveland will long remain one of my strongest im- pressions of this my first visit to North America.My other main impression was that of size with everything being on a grand scale compared with my previous experiences. This was particularly true of the seventeenth meeting of the Federation of Analytical Chemistry and Spectro- scopy Societies which ran up to seven- teen parallel streams and approximately 160 sessions each dealing with a different branch of analytical science. In these ses- sions at least 20% of the papers con- cerned analytical atomic spectrometry. Size was both the strength and the weakness of this meeting. The strength being the substantial number of high- quality papers presented the weakness in that it was impossible because of the mul- tiple streams to cover all of the papers that one wished to.This was certainly true for the atomic spectrometry sessions.JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL ATOMIC SPECTROMETRY MARCH 1991. VOL. 6 101 The highlights of the scientific pro- gramme included the symposium on ad- vances in applied spectrometry and analytical chemistry in honour of Ted Rains and the memorial symposium in regard of Professor C. Th. J. Alkemade on the subject of atomic physics and ana- Time for- a quick drink and a chat hempeen ses- sions for delegates Jim Harnly. Da1.e Styr-is and Phil Rib! lytical spectrometry. It is difficult to isolate any individual session or paper above the rest as the quality was consis- tently high but I did find that I particu- larly enjoyed several sessions on ETAAS and ICP-MS which were both stimulating and entertaining.Unfortunately the meeting lacked a strong European style poster session. Poster sessions particularly when com- bined with a light buffet or ‘cocktail’ rather a sad reflection on the mistake of viewing this medium as a lower status form of communication compared with a conventional lecture. Any conference is more than just a scientific meeting it is also a social event. Somehow I managed to miss the conference social evening of video games and stand-up comedy by being waylaid and finding the local brewery (which was busy with a significant number of confer- ence attendees). I also observed the dangers of Tequila and beer drinking with Texans. Although they were in no way in- volved in any of the above I would like to thank Judith Egan Jim Hamly and Phil Riby for introducing me to a group of friendly people who certainly made me feel welcome. A commendation should also go to Nancy Miller-Ihli who as Chair of the Governing Board spared no effort in ensuring that the meeting ran smoothly. As I sat in the airport at the end of a hectic week I couldn’t help but reflect upon the previous six days. A lot had happened and 1 had learned great deal. I looked out of the window the Indian summer had been replaced with grey rain- clouds. It was time to leave. Chair of the Goiurning Board N a n q Miller-ihli at the Conference Dinner event provide an excellent opportunity for the transmision of scientific data and allow interchange of ideas and experience between participants. This is not a criti- cism of the conference organizers but Simon Sparkes Analytic*al Chemistry Research Unit Department cf Eniir-onmental Sciences Polytechnic South West Plymouth. UK