Sunday, March 24, 2013

Process NMR Associates to Present 3 Posters at SMASH NMR Conference, September 9-12, 2012

News - John Edwards of Process NMR Associates will be presenting the following 3 posters at SMASH NMR Conference, Providence RI, September 9-12, 2012. Process NMR Associates will also have a vendor table where John will be available to discuss the exciting range of high and low resolution permanent magnet NMR products available through the company and it’s partners Aspect AI and Cosa-Xentaur.

Poster 1
Quantitative Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometry (1H-NMR) for Determination of Acetylated Polysaccharides, Glucose, Maltodextrin, and Isocitrate in Aloe Vera Leaf Juice
John C. Edwards, Process NMR Associates, Danbury, Connecticut
Aloe Vera is a botanical component that is used widely in the cosmetic, natural product, herbal supplement, and pharmaceutical industries. The widespread use of Aloe Vera has lead to the need to adequately analyze the authenticity, quality, and quantity of the various components present in this material. The qNMR method described here was developed and validated by Process NMR Associates (Danbury, CT) and is similar to an independently validated method developed by Jiao et al [1]. The method described is to be included in an upcoming Monograph on Aloe Vera published by the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia. The method can be used for the detection and quantitation of the primary components of interest in Aloe Vera juice products and raw materials for compliance with IASC (International Aloe Science Council) certification requirements, specifically, for determination of the content of acetylated polysaccharides, the presence of glucose, the presence and content of maltodextrin, and the content of isocitrate. Additionally, for meeting quality control specifications beyond IASC requirements, the presence and content of the following groups of compounds can be determined: degradation products (e.g., lactic acid, pyruvic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, acetic acid, formic acid, and ethanol), preservatives (e.g., potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, and citric acid/citrate), and other atypical impurities, additives, or adulterants (e.g., methanol, glycine, glycerol, sucrose, maltodextrin, flavorants (propylene glycol/ethanol)). We will describe a common internal-standard NMR methodology that does not require additional equipment or advanced automation software. The method is applicable to a number of different Aloe Vera raw materials and products, including liquid and dried juices. In aloe vera finished products the method is only applicable when the observable aloe vera constituents are present at a high enough concentration to be observed and are not obscured by additional product ingredients with signals in overlapping areas.
1. “Quantitative 1H-NMR spectrometry method for quality control of Aloe vera products”, Jiao, P., Jia, Q., Randel, G., Diehl, B., Weaver, S., Milligan, G., J AOAC Int., 93(3), 842-848, 2010

Poster 2
Practical Applications of Compact, Cryogen-Free High-Resolution 60 MHz Permanent Magnet NMR Systems for Reaction Monitoring and Online/At-Line Process Control
John C. Edwards, Process NMR Associates, LLC, 87A Sand Pit Road, Danbury, CT 06810 USA
For the past two decades high resolution 1H NMR at 60 MHz has been utilized to monitor the chemical physical properties of refinery and petrochemical feedstreams and products1. These approaches involve the use of partial least squares regression modelling to correlate NMR spectral variability with ASTM and other official test methods, allowing the NMR to predict results of physical property tests or GC analysis. The analysis is performed in a stop flow environment where solenoid valves are closed at the beginning of the NMR experiment. This approach allows up to 5 or 6 different sample streams to be sent to the sample in order to maximize the impact of the instrument. The current work with these permanent magnet NMR systems is to utilize them as chemistry detectors for bench-top reaction monitoring, mixing monitoring, dilution monitoring, or conversion monitoring. In the past use of NMR for these applications has been limited by the need to bring the “reaction” to the typical “superconducting” NMR lab. A compact high resolution NMR system will be described that can be situated on the bench-top or in the fume hood to be used as a continuous or stop-flow detector and/or an “in-situ” reaction monitoring system. The system uses a unique 1.5 Tesla permanent magnet that can accommodate sample diameters of 3-10 mm with half-height resolution approaching 1-3 Hz (depending on the sample size) and excellent single pulse sensitivity. Reaction monitoring can be performed using a simple flow cell analyzing total system volumes of 2 to 5 mL depending on the length and diameter of the transfer tubing. Further, detection limits of analytes in the 200+ ppm range are possible without the use of typical deuterated NMR solvents. Analysis times of 5 to 20 seconds are also possible at flow rates of 5 to 20+ ml/minute. Reaction monitoring directly in standard 5-10 mm NMR tubes using conventional (non-deuterated) reactants, solvents and analytes will also be described. Examples of 1H, 19F and 31P analyses will be described.
1.“Process NMR Spectroscopy: Technology and On-line Applications” John C. Edwards, and Paul J. Giammatteo, in Process Analytical Technology: Spectroscopic Tools and Implementation Strategies for the Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries, 2nd Ed., Editor Katherine Bakeev, Blackwell-Wiley, 2010

Poster 3
Calculation of Average Molecular Descriptions of Heavy Petroleum Hydrocarbons by Combined Analysis by Quantitative 13C and DEPT-45 NMR Experiments
John C. Edwards
Process NMR Associates, LLC, 87A Sand Pit Rd, Danbury, CT 06810 USA
Over the years much debate has centered around the validity and accuracy of NMR measurements to accurately describe the sample chemistry of heavy petroleum materials. Of particular issue has been the calculated size of aromatic ring systems that in general seem to be underestimated in size by NMR methods. This underestimation is principally caused by variance in chemical shift ranges used by researchers to define the aromatic carbon types observed in the 13C NMR spectrum, in particular the bridgehead aromatic carbons that can be shown to overlap strongly with the protonated aromatic carbons. The ability to discern between bridgehead aromatic carbons and protonated carbons in the 108-129.5 ppm region of the spectrum is key in the derivation of molecular parameters that properly describe the “molecular average” present in the sample. Utilizing methodologies developed by Pugmire and Solum [1] for the solid-state 13C NMR analysis of coals and other carbonaceous solids we have developed a new liquid-state 13C NMR method that allows the relative quantification of overlapping protonated and bridgehead aromatic carbon signals to be determined [2]. The NMR experiments involve the combined analysis of both quantitative 13C single pulse excitation which observes “all carbons in the sample” and DEPT45 polarization transfer which observes only the protonated carbons in the sample. Though the DEPT45 results are not quantitative across all carbon types (CH, CH2, and CH3) due to polarization transfer differences, the technique is well enough understood that simple multiplication factors allow the relative intensities of the different carbons to be determined. An additional aspect of the experiments is the addition of a standard material (PEG polymer) that allows the calculation of the absolute percentage of the carbons observed by the NMR technique. This allows the relative amount of bridgehead carbon to be calculated by direct comparison of the aromatic region with the standard signal intensity. The average ring system sizes derived from these NMR experiments tend to be several ring systems larger than has been calculated in previous studies. In asphaltenes for example the ring systems are 5-7 rings in size rather than the 3-4 rings reported previously. The ring sizes determined by this new combined NMR method are in agreement with FTICR-MS and fluorescence measurements.
1) “Carbon-13 Solid-State NMR of Argonne Premium Coals”, Mark S. Solum, R.J. Pugmire, David M. Grant, Energy Fuels, 1989, 3(2), pp 187-193
2)” Comparison of Coal-Derived and Petroleum Asphaltenes by 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, DEPT, and XRS”, A. Ballard Andrews, John C. Edwards, Andrew E. Pomerantz, Oliver C. Mullins, Dennis Nordlund, and Koyo Norinaga, Energy Fuels, 2011, 25 (7), pp 3068–3076

Process NMR (High, Mid and Low Resolution) Session at Practical Applications of NMR in Industry Conference

John Edwards (PNA) and Mark Zell (Pfizer) are co-chairs of a session of practical NMR applications in process control, reaction monitoring, miniaturized instrumentation, TD-NMR. John Edwards is also co-chairing a session (with Kathleen Farley of Pfizer) on quantitative NMR that contains an excellent talk on quantitative online NMR spectroscopy. Speakers in our sessions include:
Session: On-Line/In-Line NMR and Time-Domain NMR
Session Chairs: John Edwards, Process NMR Associates and Mark Zell, Pfizer, Inc.
On-Line Applications of High-Resolution NMR in the Petroleum Industry – Direct Measurement, Chemometric Correlation, and Multiple Spectroscopy Data Fusion – John Edwards, Process NMR Associates, Danbury, CT USA
Online NMR Reaction Monitoring in Pharmaceutical Process Development – David Foley, Pfizer Global Research and Development, Groton, CT USA
Beyond Hammers in Search of Nails: An instrument technologist’s perspective on developing miniaturized NMR spectrometers for new applications – Andrew McDowell, ABQMR, Inc., Albuquerque, NM USA
LF-NMR Studies of Mechanically Induced Gel Syneresis in Cheese – Soren Engelsen, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
NMR Quantification of Structural Features in Food Science and Technology – John van Duynhoven, Unilever – Vlaardingen, The Netherlands
Rheological Measurements on Non-Newtonian Fluids Using a Process Compatible MRI – Michael McCarthy, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA USA
Session: Quantitation Applications 2
Session Chairs: John Edwards, Process NMR Associates and Kathleen Farley, Pfizer, Inc.
High Precision Purity Determination by qNMR – How to Achieve an Uncertainty of Measurement of 0.15%? – Torsten Schonberger, Federal Criminal Police Office (“Forensic Science Institute” (Bundeskriminalamt, BKA) Wiesbaden, Germany
Process Analytical Applications of Quantitative Online NMR Spectroscopy – Michael Maiwald, BAM, Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Berlin, Germany
The entire scientific program for the conference can be found here – PANIC Scientific Program

Practical Applications of NMR in Industry Conference (PANIC) – Student Travel Grants Available

CASSS is pleased to provide a limited number of student travel grants for PhD students and post-docs who present posters at the Practical Applications of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Conference (PANIC). PhD students or post-doctoral fellows conducting research with professors in universities throughout the world are eligible.
CASSS would like to gratefully acknowledge the Suraj Manrao Student Travel Science Fund for their contribution to subsidize one additional science student to attend the PANIC Conference.
To apply for a student travel grant, students should submit:
Your abstract online (Please click here to submit your abstract)
A letter requesting consideration for the grant
A letter of recommendation from your professor or advisor
A PDF of your abstract
A CV for the candidate
All documents can be emailed to the NMR Symposium Manager, Linda Mansouria at lmansouria@casss.org. The deadline to apply for a student travel grant is Friday, July 13, 2012.

Newsflash: For Immediate Release – Process NMR Associates and Quantum Tessera Enter into Strategic Partnership

Process NMR Associates, LLC, Danbury, CT and Quantum Tessera Consulting, LLC, Collegeville, PA, USA
Process NMR Associates, LLC (LLC) and Quantum Tessera Consulting, LLC are pleased to announce they have entered into a Strategic Partnership. This partnership will leverage PNA’s experience applying magnetic resonance techniques to such processes as reaction monitoring, active ingredient quality control, and the petroleum industry. PNA’s MR expertise extends into time-domain NMR, low field high resolution NMR (60MHz and 300MHz) applications, and chemometrics. Quantum Tessera brings its knowledge and experience about large molecule process development. Together, Process NMR Associates and Quantum Tessera can deliver higher value to clients process and manufacturing problems.
Process NMR Associates and Quantum Tessera’s first project will be focused initially on NMR-based solutions for bioprocess monitoring and biofuel manufacture.
Dr. John Edwards, Principal and Manager of Analytical Services at PNA comments, “The combination of Quantum Tessera Consulting and PNA will allow both companies to expand their customer base and allow them to offer a wider range of robust and innovative solutions to our clients.”
Dr. Edward Zartler, CSO of Quantum Tessera, adds, “Process NMR associates has always led the field in NMR-based process analytics. This Strategic Partnership will result in synergies between our two companies, where the sum will be greater than the individual parts.”
About Quantum Tessera Consulting, LLC (http://www.quantumtessera.com): Quantum Tessera provides complete analytical solutions to its clients. While focused on NMR-based solutions, Quantum Tessera is focused on delivering the most appropriate solution to its customers. Quantum Tessera is focused on two major areas: Fragment-based Drug Discovery (FBDD) and Bioprocess Development.
About Process NMR Associates, LLC (http://www.process-nmr.com/): Process NMR Associates provides 1) 300 MHz analytical NMR services and consulting, 2) sales and marketing of the Aspect Italia 60 MHz high resolution NMR systems for process analytical and laboratory applications, and 3) marketing, sales, and applications for the Cosa-Xentaur SpinPulse TD-NMR spectrometer series.