news, reviews and events
TRANSCRIPT
Process Biochemistry 26 (1991) 55-62
News, Reviews and Events
LITERATURE
A colour brochure (SD 1044) that doubles as a wall chart summarises both Pall’s range of filter media, and the many styles of filter cartridges and capsules that are available. Included are the removal ratings of 19 different proprietary Pall filter media manufactured from nylon 66, PTFE, polypropylene, glass-fibre cellulose and stainless-steel. Illustrated are over 20 filter cartridges, capsules and filter assemblies.
Contact: Pall Process Filtration Ltd, Europa House, Havant Street, Portsmouth, Hants PO1 3PD, UK. Tel: 0705 753545. Fax: 0705 831324.
A two-colour, g-page brochure from Lambda Photometrics describes the PI C-800 system. This programmable position-controller, for precision d.c. motors, offers a positioning range of 4x lo9 steps and a motor resolution f 4000 steps/rev. All of the simple, two- letter commands arc listed and described. as are all the technical features.
The brochure also gives a full technical description of the C-810, which offers similar positioning and control facilities but takes the form of a single PCB suitable for plugging directly into a PC.
Contact: Lambda Photometrics Ltd, Lambda House, Batford Mill, Harpenden, Herts AL5 5BZ, UK. Tel: 0582 764334. Fax: 0582 72084.
Jeol’s latest Electron Microscopy catalogue stresses the use of EMS not merely for high-magnification observations, perhaps at atomic level, but as instruments for elemental analysis.
Both scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) microscopes are available with a wide range of analytical options, including X-ray spectrometry, wavelength dispersive spectrometry, electron energy analysis, ESCA and EELS. Also described are Jeol’s range of electron instruments for surface studies and micro-area analysis including Auger micro-probes and scanning tunnelling microscopes. Instruments employing field emission guns, digital imaging,
frame-stores and data control systems are also described. l
Contact: Jeol (UK) Ltd, Jeol House, Silver Court. Watchmead, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL7 1 LT, UK. Tel : 0707 371117.
A new, 12-page colour brochure describes New Brunswick Scientific’s fermentors from bench-top to pilot plant and analogue to computer control. Complete technical specifications as well as system features are detailed, covering continuous culture chemostats to PC- ready microprocessor-controlled units.
Contact: New Brunswick Scientific (UK) Ltd, Edison House, 163 Dixons Hill Road, North Mymms, Hatfield, Herts, AL9 7JE, UK. Tel: 0707 275733. Fax: 0707 267859.
Four Steps to Successful Filtration is the first poster in a series which describes the basic principles of filtration. It illustrates filter porosity, pore stability, pore size and structural integrity and is issued by Pall Process Filtration Ltd.
Contact: Pall Process Filtration Ltd. Europa House, Havant Street, Portsmouth PO1 3PD, UK. Tel: 0705 753545. Fax: 0705 831321.
Chemists at Radiometer’s central laboratories in Copenhagen have compiled a booklet of water chemistry analyses which is now available free of charge to scientists.
New procedures for automatic titrations, ion-selective electrode measurements and trace-metal analyses of water have been developed and documented by the Radiometer chemists.
Amongst the 15 analyses are pH, alkalinity, calcium and magnesium in one sample; chemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen in water, trace amounts of lead, cadmium and copper.
An exact description for each procedure is included, giving details of sample preparation, reagents, typical results with statistics, settings and the instrumentation required.
Contact: Ed Lemon, Radiometer Ltd, 55
The Manor; Manor Royal, Crawley, Sussex RH 10 2PY, UK. Tel : 0293 517599. Fax: 0293 31597.
A new 12-page full-colour product brochure supported by a series of technical data sheets describes the next generation of absolute-rated depth filters. Profile II filters provide very long service life and are more economical to use than conventional filters.
The literature provides a detailed description of how the profile II filter cartridge is constructed, and contains photomicrographs which clearly show the interior tapered pore construction of the filter medium. Profile II filters are manufactured from either polypropylene or nylon.
Contact: Pall Process Filtration Ltd. Europa House, Havant Street, Portsmouth, Hants: PO1 3PD, UK. Tel: 0705 753545. Fax: 0705 831324.
The rewards of successful biochemical food product development in Europe continue to outweigh its risks, and with sales on target to break through the $2 billion a year mark by 1995, there are rich pickings for companies which unearth new functional proteins or innovative diagnostic procedures.
That is the view of a report entitled The European Market for Biochemical Food Products and Food Additives, from Frost & Sullivan, which say low-cost biotechnological research within the food industry is now concentrating on relatively short-term projects, which often result not only in a cost-saving to food production, but also in added safety.
A one- or two-year programme to develop a specific test could cost in the region of $100,000 the report says, and for a similar sum it is possible to investigate modification of a functional enzyme or protein; that is, protein engineering rather than genetic engineering. There is no guarantee of success, of course, but the sums at risk are considerably less than the millions of dollars needed for totally new ingredients, additives or raw materials.
Process Biochemistry (26) (1991)--O 1991 Elsevier Science Publishers Ltd, England.
56
One area which holds considerable promise for processing, suggests Frost & Sullivan, is the genetic engineering of yeast. The objective is to produce strains which will operate at higher temperatures and so potentially reduce processing time by days.
Apart from saving time, such an engmeering breakthrough could also be used to develop more strains which produce enzymes, colours and flavour metabolites in higher concentrations. This has already led to the manufacture of proteins, enzymes and yeasts with specific properties.
Contact: Customer Service, Forst & Sullivan Ltd, Sullivan House, 4 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1 W OHD, UK. Tel: 071 730 3438.
The Annual Report of Nikkei Biotechnology (Tokyo), a comprehensive assessment of the markets and research/development projects for bioindustry technologies currently being pursued in Japan, has been released in English as the Biotechnology in Japan Yearbook 1990/91: Markets and Research/Development.
With a domestic biotechnology market of over $850 million, Japan has more than 600 companies and government agencies pouring considerable financial and human resources into the applications of biotechnology tools. Detailed data on Japanese biotechnology is now available in this publication.
Contact : Japan Pacific Associates, 467 Hamilton Avenue, Suite 2, Palo Alto. California 9430 I, USA. Tel: 415 322 8441, Fax: 415 322 8454.
News, Reviews and Events
the companies can develop and expand their activities in parallel.
The scheme is original in that it represents a cooperative business sti-ucture that does not affect the existing ownership or shareholdings of the participating companies, which continue to be fully independent. Each company successfully manufactures and markets its own products, which the other participants will (after due regard to existing arrangements) have first option to market in their respective territories.
Each company also acts as representative for the other overseas manufacturers. Negotiations are under way for all the overseas principals to consolidate their representation wherever possible within the new Group, and so benefit from an integrated, trans- national marketing and support organisation.
Contact: Biotech Instruments Ltd, 183 Camford Way, Luton, Beds U3 WAN, UK.
BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL
BIOTECHNOLOGY INSTRUMENTATION PARTNERSHIP
A venture between five biotechnology companies in five European countries has been announced.
The companies - Biotech Instruments of Britain, Dalton of the Netherlands, Cytolab from France, Dunn Labortechnik from Germany, and the Swiss company Bio Cell Consulting - supply instruments, biochemical products, accessories and software to the world biotechnology market. The new venture, known as the Combio Group of Companies, is designed as a mutual benefit organisation within which the participants will share technological expertise and marketing resources. The aim is to secure a sound base from which
PIONEERING RESEARCH ON ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY ADHESIVES
A major research project on the use of living organisms as a source of commercial adhesives is being launched by the independent research body BTTG (British Textile Technology Group).
The three-year programme aims to produce an entirely new range of environmentally-friendly adhesives based on substances found in the natural world and similar to the cement produced by mussels to anchor themselves to rocks. The project will seek to identify suitable natural materials that can be developed for manufacture on a commercial scale.
This is the first time that an attempt has been made to exploit bioadhesives in this way. They will not only offer considerable advantages over conventional adhesives, but will give the British adhesive and sealants industry the innovative products it needs to increase its share of the world-wide adhesives market.
The new products will reduce the industry’s dependence on costly and environmentally-damaging substances such as toxic and flammable solvents and speciality chemicals. helping to protect both producers and users. Their introduction will also lead to energy savings in manufacture and a reduction in trade effluent disposal charges.
A big advantage for users is expected to be the potential for reversing the curing of these adhesives, which would enable otherwise expensive bondings errors to be rectified without the use of
organic solvents. Another significant benefit will be improved adhesive properties, such as the ability to bond materials under damp conditions or when they are themselves wet.
The research will particularly interest companies engaged in the manufacture or use of adhesives and sealants, and also those involved in producing microbial products. The work-will be carried out by BTTG on a multi-sponsorship basis, whereby firms gain the full benefits of participating in major research, but at relatively low cost to themselves.
Contact : Gordon Nelson, BTTG, Shirley Towers, Disbury, Manchester M20 8RX, UK. Tel: 061 445 8141. Fax: 061 434 9957.
CALENDAR
Watermatex ‘91. Durham, New Hampshire, USA, 34 June 1991.
Contact: Watermatex ‘91, New England Center, University of New Hampshire, 15 Strafford Avenue, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, USA.
Biocatalysis for the 90s. Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA, 5-7 June 1991.
Contact: Rita S. Kessel, Senior Managing Editor, Journals, Butterworth-Heinemann, 80 Montvale Avenue, Stoneham, Massachusetts 02180, USA. Tel: 617 438 8464 ex. 293. Fax: 617 279 4851.
ACHEMA ‘91 - International Meeting on Chemical Engineering and Biotech- nology - 23rd Chemical Engineering Con- gress- Frankfurt, FRG, 93 5 June 199 1. 9-15 June 1991.
Contact: DECHEMA, POB 97 01 46, D-6000 Frankfurt am Main 97, FRG. Tel : 4969 7564 235. Telex : 0412490 DCHAD.
American Type Culture Collection will hold Laboratory Workshops during 1991, at its premises in Rockville, Maryland : Pathogen Analysis of Municipal Waste-water Sludge, June 13-14, 199 1; Fermentation Micro- biology, August 13-16, 1991.
Contact: ATCC Workshops Manager, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20852-1776, USA. Tel: 301 881 2600. Fax: 201 770 2587.
RoSPA International Safety & Health Exhibition and Congress, 18 20 June 1991, National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham.
Contact: Tel: 021 7804141. Fax: 021 780 2518.
A 3-day Course on Enzymic Synthesis for organic Chemists will be held at the
News, Reviews and Events 57
University of Strathclyde, Scotland, 19-21 June; 1991.
Contact: Dr Chris Lewis, Continuing Education Centre, McCance Building, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow Gl lXQ, UK. Tel: 041 552 4400. Fax: 041 552 0775.
5PX, Northern Ireland. Tel : 0232 661166. Fax: 0232 669551.
8th European Meeting on Chemical Vapour Deposition will be held at the University of Strathclyde Glasgow, Scotland from 9-13 September 1991.
Contact: Prof. Michael Hitchman, Stability of Proteins - Theory and Practice to be held from l-5 July, 199 I, at Girton College, Cambridge, UK. The principles of protein stabilisation de- stabilisation and inactivation will be discussed. The meeting will bring together scientists, engineers and technologists with this common interest and will feature 10 invited state-of-the- art lectures to cover both the theoretical and practical aspects. The meeting is sponsored by Pafra Ltd, the Royal Society of Chemistry Biotechnology Group, and the IUPAC Steering Committee for Biophysical Chemistry.
Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, The University of Strathclyde, Thomas Graham Building, 295 Cathedral Street, Glasgow Cl IXL. UK. Tel: 041 552 4400. Fax: 041 552 5664.
Workshop in Liquid Scintillation Counting at the Royal Society of Chemistry Radiochemical Methods Group, from 9-13 September 1991, at Loughborough Institute of Technology. (Applications not later than 31 July 1991).
Contact: Dr Peter Warwick, Nuclear Chemistry Laboratories, University of Technology, Loughborough, Leics LEl 1 3TU. UK. Tel: 0509 222585.
Contact: Mrs Sheila Mathias, Pafra Ltd, Biopreservation Division, 150 Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 4GG, UK. Tel: 0223 420921. Fax: 0223 420502.
Lipases : Structure, Function and Applications in Biotransformations. Conference at Radcliffe House, Universitv of Warwick. Coventrv. UK: 16-18 Juiy 1991. ’
a_
Contact: Mrs J. Twigger, Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
2nd International Congress on Amino Acids and Analogues, 5-9 August 1991, University of Vienna Austria.
Contact: Gert Lubcc. Universitv of
Clean Air at Work: New Trends in Assessment and Measurements for the ’90s. The Commission of the European Communities is planning, in conjunction with the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK) and in collaboration with other interested organisations, this symposium on occupational hygiene in the context of European initiatives. The symposium will be held in Luxembourg on 9-13 September 1991.
Contact: D. Nicolay, Commission of the European Communities, Bbtiment Jean Monnet, Office B4/87, L-2920 Luxembourg.
Vienna, Dept of Paediatrics, WHhrmger Gtistel 18, A 1090 Vienna, Austria.
33rd International Congress of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. Budapest, Hungary, 17-22 August 1991.
Contact: E. Pungor, 33rd IUPAC Congress, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Gellert ter 4, H-l 111 Budapest, Hungary. Tel: 36 1 853 493. Telex : 223628 ANAL H.
9th International Training Course on Biogas Technology. Chengdu. People’s Republic of China, 9-20 September 1991.
Contact: Mr Zhang Mi, Training Department, Biogas Research and Training Centre for Asia and the Pacific (BRTC), No. 13 Block 4, People’s South Street, Chcngdu, Sichuan 610041, People’s Republic of China. Tel : 55 156 I Telex: 60107 CMTCC CN.
American Chemical Society Fall Meeting. New York, USA, 25-30 August 1991.
Contact : American Chemical Society, 1155 Sixteenth, Washington, District of Columbia 20036, USA.
Fungal Biotechnology. Residential course to be held by the University of Strathclyde, at Ross Priory, Loch Lomond, UK, from 1620 September 1991.
Contact: Dr B. McNeil, Fermentation The Chemistry of Muscle-based Foods. Centre, Department of Bioscience & Symposium at The Queen’s University of Biotechnology, University of Strath-
Belfast, Northern Ireland, 9-l 1 clyde, 204 George Street, Glasgow
Sentember 1991. Gl IXW, UK. Tel: 041 552 4400.
Contact : Professor D. A. Ledward, Department of Food and Agricultural Chemistry, The Queen’s University of Belfast, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9
IWEX 91 International Water & Effluent Treatment Exhibition, National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, 17- 19 September 1991.
Contact: Exhibition Division, Turret Group PlC, 171 High Street, Rickmansworth, Herts WD3 lSN, UK. Tel: 0923 777000. Fax: 0923 771297.
1991 International Paper Physics Conference. Kona, Hawaii, USA, 22 27 September 199 1,
Contact : Dr Richard E. Mark, Program Chairman, 1991 International Paper Physics Conference, c/o Empire State Paper Research Institute, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA; Tel: (315) 470 6520/6502; Fax : (3 15) 470 6779; or: Meetings Departments, TAPPI. USA ; Tel ; (404) 446 1400 ex. 237.
Biotechnologies and Environment for a Sustainable Development-International Symposium will take place at The Universi tv of Montreal. Canada. September 23-26, 1991. This’is organised in the framework of UNESCO’S Microbiological Resources Centre.
Contact: Diane Chalifour, Project Coordinator, University of Montreal, Canada. Tel: 514 343 5873. Fax: 514 343 2275.
BIOTECH - 1st Conference on UK Biotechnology of the British Coordinating Committee for Biotechnology. Leeds, UK, 24-27 September 1991.
Contact: J. D. Bul’ock, Biotech UK Information, Manchester M 13 9PL, UK. Tel: (061) 275 4596. Fax: (061) 275 4598.
Biotcchnica ‘91 - International Trade Fair and Congress of Biotechnology. Hanover, FRG, October 1991.
Contact: Deutsche Messe AG. Messegelande, D-3000 Hanover 82; FRG. Tel: 511 89 31 120. Fax: 511 893 2626. Telex : 922728.
1991 Pulp and Paper Industry Environment Conference. Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, 8-10 October 1991.
Contact: Mr Nick Boultbee, Technical Section, Canadian Pulp and Paper Association (CPPA). Sun Life Building. 19th Floor; 1155 Metcalfe Street Montreal, Qutbcc, Canada H3B 4T6. Tel: 514 8666621. Fax: 514 866 3035.
International Biotechnology Exposition. San Mateo, California, USA. 22-24 October 1991.
Contact: MS Diane Wver. Carthdge Associates Inc., 3097 Moorpark Avenue, No. 202, San Jose, California 95128, USA. Tel : 408 554 6644. Fax: (408) 985 0660. Telex: 345516.
1st Research Forum on Recycling. Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 29- 3 1 October 1991.
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Contact: Mr D. H. Paterson, Manager, Technical Section, CPPA, Sun Life Building, 19th Floor, 1155 Metcalfe Street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3B 4T6. Tel: 514 866 6621. Fax: 514 866 3035.
MEDICA PIUS BIOTECH - International Congress and Trade Fair. Dusseldorf, FRG, 20-23 November 1991.
Contact: Dusseldorfer Messegesell- schaft GmbH, Postfach 32 0203, D-4000 Dusseldorf 30, FRG. Tel : (0211) 45 60 01. Fax:(0211)4560668. Telex : 8584853 MES D.
1992 Powtech International Powder, Granule and Bulk Solids Technology Exhibition will be held at Nuremberg, FRG from March 2426, 1992.
Anabiotech 1991. Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands, 14-16 April 1992.
Contact: K. Foley, Anabiotech, PO Box 330, 1000 AH Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
5th European Conference on Industrial Biotechnology, Venice, Italy 1417 June 1992.
Contact: Dr Sergio Merli Fermitalia Carlo Erba, Biotechnological Research, Via dei Gracchi, 35 20146 Milan0 (Italy). Tel : + 2 69954661. Fax: + 2 69954511.
IEX ‘92: Resin Ion Exchange. Cambridge, UK, 12-17 July 1992.
Contact: Conference Secretariat, SCI, 14/l 5 Belgrave Square, London SWlX 8PS, UK. Tel: 071 235 3681. Fax: 071 823 1698.
9th International Biotechnology Symposium. Washington, District of Columbia, USA, 16-21 August 1992.
Contact: Professor D. I. C. Wang, BPEC, Room 20A-27, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA. Tel: 617 253 0805.
ISEC ‘92: Solvent Extraction iu the Process Industries. York, UK, 9-15 September 1993.
Contact: Conference Secretariat, SCI, 14/15 Belgrave Square, London SWlX 8PS, UK. Tel: 071 235 3681. Fax: 071 823 1698.
24th ACHEMA : International Congress on Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology. Frankfurt, FRG, June 1994.
Contact : DECHEMA, Theodor- Heuss-Allee 25, D-6000 Frankfurth- Main 97, FRG. Tel: 4969 7564 235. Telex: 0412490 DCHA D.
News, Reviews and Events
NEW PRODUCTS AND EQUIPMENT
QUANT + SPECTROSCOPY SOFTWARE
Perkin-Elmer’s new Quant + software package for multi-component quantitative analysis is well suited to infra red, ultra-violet and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques, using an advanced chemometric approach. Applications can range from the determination of a single property to the determination of 15 separate physical or chemical properties, using as many as 150 calibration spectra
Methods built using the iconised menu structure can be checked using cross- validation of calibration data or independent data. The review facility gives an extensive statistical analysis of the method, displayed in graphical form so that important or anomalous information can be readily identified. Methods can be run directly from QUANT+, DOS or from the Perkin- Elmer infrared Data Manager (IRDM) software.
Contact: Carol-Anne Green, Perkin- Elmer Ltd. Maxwell Road, Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 IQA, UK. Tel: 0494 676161. Fax : 0494 678324.
CUSTOMIZED TEMPERATURE- CONTROLLEDBATHS
For temperature control of large- volume glass vessels, small Eppendorf tubes or bulky plastic parts, the Haake modular system consists of a wide palette of standard components which can be combined to provide temperature- controlled baths with openings to suit customer requirements.
Bath vessels made from polyacryl glass enable observation of the immersed samples up to a temperature limit of 65°C. Other baths manufactured from stainless-steel are available for higher temperatures.
The standard vessels have a bath volume of between 3 and 46 litres and the bath vessels can be combined with all Haake temperature-control modules, to provide practical solutions to everyday problems.
Inexpensive temperature-control units can be used for simple temperature control tasks, but high-quality temperature controllers are available if a high degree of control accuracy, powerful heating and pump capacity and operating safety without any compromises are required. For special temperature-control tasks, special bath vessels can be designed and produced on request.
Contact: Robert Kassel, Haake Mess- Technik GmbH u. Co, Dieselstrass 4, D-7500 Karlsruhe 41, FRG. Tel: 0721 4094 1. Fax : 072 1 4094 300
CLIP-ON FORMALDEHYDE MONITOR
A small, lightweight Passive Bubbler, to monitor industrial and indoor atmos- pheres for formaldehyde, has been introduced by SKC Ltd.
Measuring just three inches long, the bubbler conveniently clips to working clothing. Operation is simple and quick; no special pumps or training are required for fast and inexpensive on-the-spot sampling.
Absorption of formaldehyde is via a diffusion disc into an aqueous medium. A reagent is added, which results in colour development from yellow through green to blue - the colour determined by the formaldehyde concentration within the medium.
The Passive bubbler is suitable for personal or area sampling and meets OSHA requirements. It is supplied in kit form - each sufficient for 100 tests.
Contact: E. Salter, SKC Ltd, Unit 11, Sunrise Park, Higher Shaftesbury Road, Blandford Forum, Dorset DTll SST, UK. Tel: 0258 480188. Fax: 0258 480184.
INTELLIGENT HAND-HELD pH METER
Water analysis specialist Palintest Limited has introduced an intelligent pH meter with sophisticated micro- processor features including fully- automatic temperature compensation, buffer solution recognition and calibration.
News, Reviews and Events 59
lipase as catalyst in a non-aqueous media.
As relative amounts of hydrolytic versus esterification ability vary with different batches of the same enzyme, this measurement will allow Biocatalysts to better meet customer requirements for lipase with high esterification ability. These lipase esterification catalysts have many applications including flavour ester synthesis, cocoa butter equivalent production and bio-surfactant manufacture.
Although all lipases sold will continue to be standardised on hydrolytic activity, a measurement of esterification ability for selected lipases will be given for reference with each purchase.
Contact : Mark Hanson, Biocatalysts, Main Avenue, Treforest Industrial Estate, Ponypridd CF37 5UT, UK. Tel : 0443 843712. Fax: 0443 841214.
MINI SOLENOID-OPERATED SPOOL VALVES
on application, with zero cross-flow contamination, the hold-up volume is just 20 microlitres.
Each valve is supplied with an electronic voltage controller, LED indicator and either a plug-in or fixed mounting base. Compact in seize, all models have a common length of 64 mm, width of 22 mm and depth of 22 mm. The optional plug-in base adds 5 mm to the length. Power consumption is 2.5 W and each valve weights 65 g.
Contact: Nigel Fuller, Omnifit Limited, 51 Norfolk Street, Cambridge CBI 2LE, UK. Tel : 0223 69841. Fax: 0223 61106.
CD ROM DATABASE FOR MICRO- ORGANISM INFORMATION
The Microcomputer 900 is a compact, hand-held instrument, equally suitable for laboratory or field applications demanding high accuracy. In addition to pH determination, it measures and displays temperature readings and micro-volt readouts for oxidation/reduction potential.
Hitachi America, Ltd’s Software Sales Support Department has introduced CD-Strains to the company’s current line of biotechnology-related PC-based software/database programs.
CD-Strains allows users to retrieve information from three major micro- organism culture collections. These are provided by the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), the Institute for Fermentation, OSAKA (IFO), and the Japanese Collection of Micro-organisms (JCM).
pH measurement covers the 0.00 to 14.00 range, with an accuracy and display resolution of 0.01 pH units. Temperature is measured from 0 to loO”C, with 0.4”C accuracy. Oxidation/reduction potential covers the 0 to f 1999 mV range, with 0.02 mV accuracy.
The instrument is buffered by touching a keypad button. Buffer information is memory-resident, even when the meter is turned off. Temperature compensation is automatic for solutions in the range O-lOO”C, with manual compensation override available. Weighing only 300 g, the instrument measures 180 x 83 x 46 mm. It comes complete with electrode, temperature probe and case. An oxidation/reduction potential probe and buffer solution calibration packs are optional extras.
Contact: Colin Marks, Palintest Ltd, Palintest House, Kingsway, Team Valley Estate, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear NE11 ONS, UK. Tel: 091 491 0808. Fax: 091 482 5372.
LIPASES WITH HIGH ESTERIFICATION ABILITY
Biocatalysts can now provide its customers with batches of lipase with high esterification ability based on measurements made with a new esterification assay. The assay, which has been introduced into the Quality Control Laboratory, measures the rate of formation of geranyl proprionate with
A series of miniature, solenoid-operated valves has been introduced by Omnifit Limited for laboratory fluid- and gas-handling applications involving particularly aggressive or costly substances. Applications include high- precision laboratory gas and liquid flow control systems, and analytical instrumentation. Manufactured entirely from chemically-inert materials, all wetted par& are in either PTFE or Kel-F with O-ring seals in Viton or Kern-Raz. Operating life is claimed to be in excess of one million cycles.
Available as 2-way normally-open, 2- way normally-closed and 3-way configurations, these valves are actuated by a 24V dry-operating solenoid which allows for manual override. Designed for use at pressures up to 6.4 Atm depending
The culture collections are now available from Hitachi on CD-ROM, compact disc - read only memory, which uses advanced technology to allow storage of large amounts of data (550 megabytes) on one disc. Currently the micro-organism data is supplied in catalogue form or, in some cases, accessible through on-line services. CD- Strains reduces the time necessary to search through hugh volumes of micro- organism catalogues for information. IC contains an easy software program that accesses the micro-organism data on CD-ROM. The program allows users to retrieve micro-organism information, within seconds, by name, culture designation, growth temperature, or GC content, depending on the database searched. The program also permits logical commands allowing retrieval of information on all oraanisms having designated characteristic<.
CD-Strains operates on a IBM PC/AT or fully-compatible computer with colour monitor and a Hitachi CD- ROM drive.
Contact: Hitachi America Ltd, Computer Division, Hitachi Plaza, 2000 Sierra Point Parkway, Brisbane, CA 94005-1819, USA. Tel: 415 589 8300. Fax: 415 583 4207.
60 News, Reviews and Events
LOW MASS FLOWS MEASURED ACCURATELY
Rosemount has launched a metering and control product for liquids at very low flow rates, based on thermal mass techniques.
Called Flomega it is an on-line instrument which meters the true total mass of the flowing liquid. Flow rates of between 2 and 100 g/h can be measured accurately, rcpeatably and reliably.
Flomega uses a measurement method based on an omega shaped flow pipe and is designed for measuring and controlling liquid flows with an accuracy of +0.5 % full scale and repeatability of 0.2 % of rate. Process temperatures up to 100°C and ambient conditions up to 65°C can be accommodated.
Flomega has a linear output (420 mA or O-5 V) and a fast response. It is available as a basic metering system when used with an associated electronics module which provides power and display facilities for up to 4 meters. Alternatively it can be fitted with an integral control valve and be used with another Rosemount electronics module that offers power and display facilities, plus the capability to produce control signals for up to 4 Flomega valve umts. This incorporates multi-channel mixing and blending facilities in addition to independent channel monitors. Rack- mounted modules providing display, control, blending and totalising facilities, which can be installed to suit any number of channels, are also available.
Contact: Rosemount Ltd, Heath Place, Bognor Regis, Sussex PO22 YSH, UK. Tel: 0243 863121. Fax : 0243 867554.
IMPROVED HPLC FLUORESCENCE DETECTION PLUS
The Shimadzu RF5001 -PC scanning spectrotluorimetcr has produced outstanding results with a 12~1 HPLC flow cell accessory increasing sensitivity as much as 200-fold.
This combined with the other facilities such as enzyme kinetics, intra-cellular calcium and fluorescence contour mapping, makes the Shimadzu RFSOOI- PC one of the most versatile and easy-to- use scanning spectrofluorimeters available.
Contact : V A Howe & Company Ltd, Beaumont Close, Banbury, Oxon OX I6 7RG, UK. Tel: 0295 252666. Fax: 0295 268096.
INTERACTIVE LASER CYTOMETER
An innovative tool for isolating, studying, cloning and sorting individual cells without removing them from culture has been launched by Biotech Instruments.
The ACAS 570 is an advanced laser cytometer that allows selection of cells directly from adherent cell cultures for isolation, propagation. ablation, sorting and analysis. The special Cookie-Cutter process automatically isolates a single cell. The chosen cell is then encircled by a high-intensity laser beam, which fuses octagonal cookies to the culture dish. When the film is peeled off the dish, the selected cells remain attached and continue to propagate.
The interactive operation of the ACAS 570 allows cellular micro-surgery to be performed on cells, macro-molecular diffusion and flux to be measured and intracellular communication to be
monitored. Quantitative analysis and sorting of adherent cells is carried out by fluorescence measurement of structure, function and response at single cell level Fluorescence photo-bleaching and fluorescence re-distribution after photo- bleaching (FRAP) are also made simple.
The system integrates laser illumination photometric detection and comprehensive, interactive software to provide perhaps the broadest range of applications in cell and molecular biology available in a single instrument. The system incorporates a tunable argon-ion laser, inverted fluorescence microscope, motorised X-Y stage, acousto-optic modulator, dual monitors for simultaneous Ruorescence and video image displays. and an 80386 computer system.
Contact: Dr Ray Newton, Biotech Instruments Ltd, 183 Camford Way, Luton, Beds, LU3 3AN, UK. Tel: 0582 502388. Fax: 0582 597091.
LARGE-CAPACITY EXTRUDER
A larger version of the machine for extruding drug formulations and other materials prior to spheronisation during the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, agro-chemicals, food products and similar materials, has been introduced by GB Caleva Ltd. This is the company’s Extruder Model 100, with 2× the nominal output capacity of the original Model 40. Like the earlier model it is fully compatible with the Caleva range of spheronising machines, which are widely used to produce regularly-shaped spheroids for filling into capsules or for coating in the manufacture of controlled- release products.
The Extruder Model 100 has a nominal hourly output of 100 kg of 1
News, Reviews and Events
spread-sheet or database management software.
Contact: B G Wili, Burkard Scientific (Sales) Ltd, P 0 Box 55, Trading Estate, Eskdale Road, Uxbridge, Middlesex. UB8 2RT, UK. Tel : 0895 30056. Fax : 0895 30058.
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mm diameter extrudate. Extrusion is performed by two detachable contra- rotating gears, operating at speeds adjustable between 25 and 130 rev/min. The machine is suitable for use on most low-pressure wet extrusion processes, its action generating a minimum of heat and being designed to ensure that the product is not excessively worked. Feeding of material to the machine can be either manual or by auger.
The Model 100 is housed in a 304 stainless-steel cabinet, and has all contact parts in 316 stainless-steel or other food-quality materials. Dnve shafts are mounted in substantial tapcr- roller bearings, which eliminate the need for bearings at the forward end of the processing area; the motor rating is 5.5 kW.
Contact: GB Caleva Ltd, Butts Pond Industrial Estate, Sturminster Newton, Dorset DTIO lAZ, UK. Tel: 0258 72742. Fax: 0258 73569.
FLEXIBLE FIA-FLO, FLOW INJECTION ANALYSER
Burkard Scientific has launched E‘id-Flu,
a new llexible system Flow Injection Analyser. Fia-Flo is an automatic single or dual valve system which provides total flexibility, able to be changed and set-up to monitor different chemistries.
The system is well suited for use in areas such as monitoring sea and river water pollution (including tesls for aluminium), chemical or process-plant monitoring, food processing and manufacture or pharmaceutical quality control, and can be used by research establishments within universities.
Fia-Flo includes a CFI-X or CFX-2 and CFl-UV Ultra-violet detector. The sample changer is available with a 40- place capacity, or serpentine with up to 300 sample cups; an X-Y sampler option is also offered.
A data analyser is available which includes a 40 MByte hard disc and high- resolution colour monitor, and single- or dual-channel recorder. Features availahle include auto-start-up and close-down. Results can be presented in a variety of modes and can be fed to
TWIN-PASS REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM
Designed to produce purified water complying with BP and EP specifications, the Intercept twin-pass RO S from Elga Ltd, is one of a new series of environment-friendly water treatment systems.
Based on the proven Intercept RO S range, the twin-pass units incorporate two sets of reverse osmosis modules operating in series. Raw water therefore passes through two RO membranes during purification. The first membrane removes the bulk of the impurities, whilst the second polishes the water. As a result purified water typically has a conductivity below sys/c&r, comfortably meeting the BP specification.
The twin-pass RO unit is available in two sizes offering outputs of either 150 or 300 l/h. Both units have a compact, self- contained design and offer quiet, trouble-free unattended operation.
Contact: Mike Walsh, Elga Ltd. High Str, Lane End. High Wycombe, Bucks HP14 3JH, UK. Tel: 0494 881393. Fax: 0494 88 1007.
SHIMADZU CS9000 SCANNING DENSITOMETER
From electrophoresis gels to auto-rads, to dot-blots, to acetates, to nitrates to
TLC plates, to paper, to negatives, to photographs. If a wide range of scans of different samples is needed, the Shimadzu cs9000 scanning densitometer can handle them all.
With a choice of two optical systems and a wavelength range from 20&700 nm, no matter what colour or shape the sample, the easy-to-use CS9000 will give accurate quantitation every time.
Contact :V A Howe & Company Ltd, Beaumont Close, Banbury, Oxon OX16 7RG, UK. Tel: 0295 252600. Fax: 0295 268096.
NOVEL BONDED PHASE HPLC COLUMNS
Anachem, the supplier of the Rockland Technologies Zorbax range of HPLC columns has introduced two novel reversed-phase columns; Zorbax RxC8 and Zorbax RxCl8. These columns mark a major advance in silica packing technology, showing much improved bonded phase stability by stcric protections of the binding sites. This gives better peak symmetry when separating basic compounds by reverse phase. Zorbax RxCl8 is more hydro- phobic than Zorbax RxC8, resulting in two highly useful selectivities for solving many separation problems involving basic compounds.
Contact: James Dixon, Anachem, Charles Street, Luton. Beds. LU2 OEB, UK. Tel : 0582 456666. Fax : 0582 391768.
MODEL API III MASS SPECTROMETER
The Sciex Model API III, from Perkin- Elmer, is a triple quadruple mass spectrometer linked to a liquid chromatograph, for separation. Ions are created at atmospheric pressure, rather than inside the vacuum system, with little or no heating (Atmospheric Pressure Ionisation and applicable to polar, thermally labile molecules).
The ions produced are transferred to the mass spectrometer, which is maintained under high vacuum, by means of a specially-designed interface. This permits the ions to pass while excluding the bulk of the sample, and avoids the need to pump large volumes of solvent.
The technique is particularly appropriate to the analysis of pharmaceutical products, surfactants and fine chemicals. The API III incorporates two mass analysers with a collision-cell between them This arrangement permits ions to be selected
62 News, Reviews and Events
provides stepless adjustment of piston stroke length (flow rate) while one pump is operating or at rest.
Models RHOCKC and RHICKC provide displacement ranges of 0 to 0.05 ml per stroke and 0 to 0.1 ml per stroke, respectively. All RH pump heads are fitted with an alumina ceramic piston and cylinder set, and a fluorocarbon cylinder case and seals to ensure excellent resistance to most acids. bases and solvents. Cylinder cases are also available in fluoropolymer E-TFE.
Suction and discharge connections are integrally moulded $ tube compression fittings, or c-28 thread for & or i inch o.d. tubing.
Model RH Pump Heads require only 10 inch-ounces of torque and 2.25 panel space making them suitable for OEM applications. By means of an adapter kit they can be coupled to any FM1 pump drive module. They are also available as complete Dispenser Units (Model Pip), or with three-speed synchronous motor drive (Model RHSY), d.c. drive (Model RHB), or variable speed drive (Model RHV).
Contact: Nicholas Cannon & Co, Parsonage Close, Warlingham, Surrey CR3 9EN, UK. Tel. and Fax: 0883 625595.
by the first mass analyser, fragmented in the collision-cell and the pieces analysed by the second mass analyser.
The instrument is not limited to LC/MS or LC/MS/MS techniques, as liquid or dissolved samples can be introduced by a simple infusion pump, by flow injection analysis, or by capillary zone electrophoresis.
Contact: Perkin-Elmer Limited, Maxwell Road, Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 IQA, UK. Tel: 0494 676161. Fax: 0494 678324.
DISPOSABLE TEST CELLS FOR RAPID MICROBIAL TESTING Malthus Instruments Ltd has announced the release of new Enterobacteriaceae, Total Microbial Activity and Yeast disposable cells.
These single-use, disposable cells are supplied pre-filled with the sterile growth medium of choice and require only inoculation before incubation on a Malthus 2000 microbiological analyser. When the test is complete cells are simply autoclaved and thrown away.
All three cell types can be used to test a wide variety of foods, beverages and household products. Quantifiable results of TMA and enterobacteriaceae tests are obtained in under 24 hours and on yeast tests in under 48 hours. No time- consuming serial dilutions are required.
The cells, when used in conjunction with the Malthus microbiological analyser, offer considerable savings in time and money and increase the efficiency of routine microbiological testing, it is claimed.
Contact: Malthus Instruments Ltd, The Manor, Manor Royal, Crawley, Sussex RHlO 2PY, UK. Tel: 0293 583538. Fax: 0293 33114.
PRECISION METERING PUMPS
The FM1 Model RH line of miniature Pump Heads and Dispensers features a valveless, positive-displacement piston operation with a repeat accuracy of 0.1%. These units are designed for the precise control of very small liquid flow streams. An easy-to-use finger-grip control ring, calibrated in hundredths,
EXPANDABLE FILTRATION FOR LARGE-VOLUME
removal or re-cycle, and processing other cellular material that is produced in a viscous or complex broth. By contrast, a woven-screen separator is designed to concentrate, separate or fractionate molecular solutions.
The cells are offered in three different types to suit specific application needs. Centrasette 5 acrylic or sanitary cells can typically process a minimum of 2 and a
, maximum of 1250 litres, whereas the ’ Centrasette 10 can process volumes in the range of 3-2500 litres.
Contact: Tom Hole, Flowgen Instruments Ltd, Broad Oak Enterprise Village, Broad Oak Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 SAO, UK. Tel: 0795 429737.
UP TO 99% RECOVERY CONCENTRATOR/FILTRATOR
A Hollow Fibre Concentrator Fiitrator from Bio-Molecular Dynamics has been developed to eliminate the history of problems long associated with stirred cell, cross-flow, tangential-flow, and other pressure filtration devices.
By combining the properties of hollow fibres with the simple functions of atmospheric pressure, vertical con- figuration, gravity and vacuum, a self- contained, unattended system has evolved whose potential is limited only by the scope of the user.
The included Electronic Lab Assistant software will allow the user to select the optimum conditions for Concentration, Filtration, and Dilution-Dialysis that yield recoveries up to 99 % throughout a sample volume range of mils to litres independent of macro-molecular concentration.
Contact: Bio-Molecular Dynamics, P 0 Box 668, Beaverton, Oregon 97075- 9928, USA. Tel: 503 626 6290. Fax: 503 643 3260.
The Filtron Centrasette range of high- performance tangential flow membrane
membrane
filtration cassette systems is now avail-
assemblies
able from Flowgen.
composed of sheets of either ultra-filtration or micro-
Centrasette cells can accommodate multiple cassettes. resulting in a wide usable range of membrane areas within
filtration membranes, placed between
the same hardware. Each cell system is
linear open-channel or woven-screen
capable of expanding and can handle process volumes in the range of 3 to 2500 litres.
Cassettes are multiple layers of
CORRIGENDUM
- A
An incorrect figure caption appeared in the paper ’ L-Tryptophan Pro- duction by the Application of High Expressed Tryptophanase in Escher- ichia coli’, Process Biochemistry 25
I : pBR322-maA.
(1990) 172-175. The correct caption
Figure 3: Stability of plasmids under
reads:
n : oBR322F-mud.
partially derepressed condition. Culti- rententate separators.
The linear open-channel separator is suited to processing fermentation or particulate-laden or viscous fluids. Applications include cell harvesting, cell
vation was carried out on LB containing IA (200 .ug mll’).
We apologise to the authors for this error.