Table of Contents

From the Editor's Desk

Ravi Ravichandran

You will find in this issue on page 3, information about Undergraduate Award ( UGA). The Minnesota Chromatography Forum urges you to make this grant known to students and faculty members, encouraging them to submit proposals. The proposals need not be long (a few pages) and the research itself should be simple enough to be completed in three to eight weeks of full time laboratory research. Please forward this information to other advisors who have candidates for this award.

I did not receive any special articles or news items to print. The MCF Newsletter is viable medium for expressing your opinions about the happenings in the area of Separation Science. Please feel free to write a few lines about a seminar you may have attended, or your opinion about the MCF Short Course you attended. Such opinions help the organizers understand the members better . I have talked to a few of my colleagues and have asked them to write Guest Columns! Perhaps you may see a couple in the upcoming issues. Please consider writing a guest column or solicit guest columns from people you know on anysubject related to separation science.

By the way, the next issue of Retention Times will be coming out in early January as has been the practice in the past. The deadline for receiving newsletter items for the December-January combo issue is December 15, 2000.

Is Your MCF Registration Up To Date?

Tom Robison

Welcome to the MCF. The new membership year began with the Spring Symposium in May, and the membership list has now been updated. Membership in the MCF is renewed annually at the time of the Spring Symposium. If you had not registered for the Spring Symposium or renewed your membership at that time, you may now notice a renewal message on your mailing label for this newsletter. The membership dues is $15. Please use the PEEL OFF address label, make any necessary changes or corrections, and include a middle initial.

The MCF exists solely for the benefit of its members. We are always interested in receiving your comments regarding MCF activities and ways in which the MCF can more closely meet your needs and interests. To improve our member outreach, we ask you to encourage your colleagues to consider membership as well. Please photocopy the membership form as necessary. The MCF also maintains a website at www.minnchrom.org. Please take the time to visit, we think you will be pleased. Thank you very much for your interest in the MCF.

Please check your mailing label. Is your name spelled correctly? Are your address and zip code correct? Are you receiving more than one copy?

[Web Editor Note:  You can also follow the Membership link on the website to obtain a new membership form or update your membership information on-line.]

Present: G Bailie, S Cherney, D Eikens, P Jackson, J Jopke, R Ravichandran, T Robison, P Sackett, B Wittrig

Education Committee Report: The GPC course was well attended and well received; as of 23 October we had 17 registrants for the Beginning GC course. The Undergraduate Award stipend will be increased to $3500, and the submission deadline moved forward to 1 March 2001; please notify DeWayne Townsend of any faculty address changes (d-town@maroon.tc.umn.edu). Beginning HPLC will be held 13-15 February, and Advanced GC Method Development and LC/MS courses have been confirmed for the Symposium. The Committee cheerfully encourages suggestions for course topics and/or instructors.

Symposium Committee Report: First Committee meeting will be held on 24 October.

Membership: Current roster is around 800, and those in arrears will be culled shortly.

Website: We continue to receive about 7 hits per day from around the world.

Newsletter: Expenses are remaining steady, and comments on the new look have been favorable. Submissions are always welcome.

New Business: Jan Jopke is investigating adding credit card payment as an option for MCF fees. In addition to a one-time payment for equipment, costs through MCF’s bank would consist of a percentage of the amount charged with no monthly service fee. In addition to the convenience to the membership, payments would be deposited directly to our account to maximize interest income. Jan will obtain more details and present her findings for a Board vote.

Next Meeting: 7 December 2000

Deadline for Registration: January 30, 2001
Note:  Class size is limited to 24 students

2001 MCF Undergraduate Research Award (UGA)

$3500 Grant - Deadline March 1^st, 2001

Call for Palmer Award Nominations

Do you know someone who has worked hard for The Minnesota Chromatography Forum (MCF) is seeking nominations for the Palmer Award to be presented at the Spring Symposium. The award recognizes one individual for their contributions to the art and science of chromatography during the previous year. Past recipients have included internationally recognized chromatographers as well as long-term MCF volunteers. For listing of the past recipients of of Palmer Award please visit the MCF web site at www.minnchrom.org. The Palmer Award has been given out by the MCF for the past 21 years The award recognizes individuals for their contributions to the art and science of chromatography. The award can also be given to an individual for service his or her to the MCF or the chromatography community.

A committee that reads and discusses all individuals nominated for the award selects a winner. The Past President of the MCF heads the committee. The nomination form can be found on the MCF web site at www.minnchrom.org.

Completed nominations should be sent to:

Dr. Ravi Ravichandran
3M Pharmaceuticals, 3M center 260-4S-13
St. Paul, MN 55144

Education Corner

This month’s education committee member has been with us for several years, and participates regularly as one of our course coordinators.

Patrick Crain is an analytical/polymer chemist currently working in the analytical group of the Specialty Materials and Manufacturing Division of 3M. In this position his primary focus is polymer characterization through Size Exclusion Chromatography and Rheological analysis. What he finds most enjoyable about this position is the variety of polymeric materials that come through his lab. Patrick received his B.S. degree in ’85 from St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN and his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry in ’91 from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He worked seven years for Fina Oil and Chemical Company in Houston, Texas analyzing commodity plastic and petroleum products before joining 3M in St. Paul.

Patrick and his wife have a daughter, 6. All three of them are very active in the local school and community. They reside in the St. Croix River valley north of Stillwater where they enjoy the outdoor activities available there.

MCF Course Review:
"Fundamentals of Size Exclusion Chromatography"

On September 26th - 27th, 2000, MCF offered a 1½ day course titled "Fundamentals of Size Exclusion Chromatography". The course was presented by Dr. Howard G. Barth from Dupont Company who is well known expert in the area of Polymer Characterization.

The course was well received by those attending. Earl Brown Continuing Education Center a great venue for holding such a course. The general consensus was that the course should be offered again. Dr. Howard Barth had a full schedule during his 2½ day visit to Minnesota with two speaking engagements on September 25th (one being at the fall MCF meeting) followed by the "Fundamentals of Size Exclusion Chromatography" course.