ChemCentre Open Day 2011
Mystery powders, water quality, heavy metals, clandestine drug laboratories and food labelling claims – these are just some of the things ChemCentre chemists handle and deal with everyday in our laboratories.
At ChemCentre Open Day 2011 on Saturday, 27 August from 10am to 4pm, you will have many opportunities to tour our laboratories, watch live demonstrations, talks and exhibits where both the young and old can learn something new about who we are, what we do and the world of chemistry.
You will have the chance to:
- See first-hand ChemCentre's state-of-the-art laboratories and mobile response units
- Hear from our experts about the science topics that matter to Western Australia
- Try your hand at emergency response science
- Discover the chemistry of fairy floss and icecream!
Originally established in the 1890s to provide chemical services for the West Australian gold rush and to reinforce the Explosives Act, ChemCentre has since grown. We provide high quality scientific information and testing for all our clients, including WA Government agencies (e.g. WA Police, Department of Environment and Conservation) and others from the public and private sectors in WA and around the world.
Visit us on our Open Day at our new premises at the Resources and Chemistry Precinct in Bentley.
Date: Saturday, 27 August 2011
Time: 10am – 4pm
Location: Corner Manning Road and Curtin University South Entrance, Bentley, WA 6102
Parking: Ample free parking is available on the Curtin University campus
Program: Download (PDF 36KB)
Poster: Download (PDF 160KB)
Enquiries: events@chemcentre.wa.gov.au.
We look forward to seeing you!
2010 Ian Ritchie Achievement Award
Nominations are now open for the 2010 Ian Ritchie Achievement Award.
The award recognises a ChemCentre employee who has displayed excellence in all aspects of their role and beyond.
The Ian Ritchie Achievement Award is in honour of Professor Ian Ritchie (ScD, DUniv, FAA, FTSE, FRACI), a distinguished scientist, educator, mentor and administrator.
Professor Ritchie, a long time champion of ChemCentre, has made significant scientific contributions over the course of his career, especially in the areas of corrosion and hydrometallurgy. He currently holds the position of Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at Murdoch University.
The Ritchie family have a long standing involvement with the sciences and share a passion for encouraging participation and interest in science.
This award acknowledges the valuable contribution of Professor Ritchie to ChemCentre and the Western Australian community.
Nominations close on the May 20, 2011.
For more information, please see:
2010 Ian Ritchie Achievement Award Outline (260KB)
2010 Ian Ritchie Achievement Award Nomination Form (640KB)
Clan drug labs keep ChemCentre busy
2009 has seen an almost four fold increase in the number of clandestine drug laboratories (‘clan labs’) being detected and dismantled in Western Australia.
A recent WA Police operation, ‘Operation Kukri’, brought the total number of labs discovered in WA to 124 for the year – up from 28 in 2008.
ChemCentre's Illicit Drugs team - pictured being briefed by WA Police before entering a clandestine drug laboratory - plays a pivotal role in dismantling these clan labs, assisting WA Police in identifying hazards and safely removing chemicals and other exhibits.
ChemCentre's chemists are dedicated, highly trained scientists, who are on call 24 hours to assist Police with the investigation of potential clan labs.
The job is far from glamorous, involving long, irregular hours, heavy protective equipment and the very real risk of toxic chemicals and explosions.
As clan labs are discovered throughout the State and not only in the metropolitan area, ChemCentre chemists may have to attend locations as far away as Port Hedland and Albany.
Once Police act on information of a suspected clan lab, two ChemCentre chemists travel to the site, identifying equipment and chemicals used for manufacturing drugs, and removing hazards where possible.
A suite of portable scientific instruments assist the chemists, from a ‘wand’ like instrument that measures levels of toxic gases within the house, to a computer that analyses and identifies unknown ‘white powders’.
Dr Dominic Reynolds, head of Illicit Drugs at ChemCentre, said many of the people making methamphetamine in clan labs are putting themselves and those around them at risk.
“The people making methamphetamine don’t have any proper training – often they are handling chemicals incorrectly, with makeshift equipment,” said Dr Reynolds. “There have been known fatalities in the US from clan labs, and we have already seen serious house fires in WA as a result of these labs. Some of the ‘cooks’ have been hospitalised with major burns.”
The prevalence of one particular method for manufacturing methamphetamine meant common telltale signs of clan labs included a strong smell of ammonia or solvents, and discarded waste with white residue inside.
Anyone concerned about possible clan labs should report any suspicious activity to Police.
Image courtesy WA Police Media.
2009 Ian Ritchie Achievement Award
Nominations are now open for the 2009 Ian Ritchie Achievement Award.
The award recognises a ChemCentre employee who has displayed excellence in all aspects of their role and beyond.
The Ian Ritchie Achievement Award is in honour of Professor Ian Ritchie (ScD, DUniv, FAA, FTSE, FRACI), a distinguished scientist, educator, mentor and administrator.
Professor Ritchie, a long time champion of ChemCentre, has made significant scientific contributions over the course of his career, especially in the areas of corrosion and hydrometallurgy. He currently holds the position of Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at Murdoch University.
The Ritchie family have a long standing involvement with the sciences and share a passion for encouraging participation and interest in science.
This award acknowledges the valuable contribution of Professor Ritchie to ChemCentre and the Western Australian community.
Nominations close on the 26 February 2010.
For more information, please see:
2009 Ian Ritchie Achievement Award Outline (256KB)
2009 Ian Ritchie Achievement Award Nomination Form (260KB)
Meet ChemCentre’s new Land Resources manager
Rick Staker, a chemist and business professional with substantial experience in the provision of chemical and analytical services, has joined ChemCentre as the Science Business Manager for Land Resources.
Bringing a wealth of expertise and business acumen, Mr Staker is already playing a valuable role in ChemCentre management.
Land Resources provides analysis across areas including soil, plant and nutrient chemistry, as well as delivering expertise on issues of agricultural and environmental management, contamination and remediation.
Mr Staker’s previous position with SGS, as business development manager for the South East Asian region, saw him interacting with a range of clients, cultures and business practices.
He says he is looking forward to the challenge of further developing ChemCentre’s business and sees many areas for growth within the Land Resources section.
"ChemCentre already has an excellent reputation for high quality analytical work. I hope to use these strengths to assist our section in becoming more responsive to commercial needs,” said Mr Staker.
"Increasingly, there is interconnection between chemistry, environmental science and agricultural best practice and ChemCentre is well positioned to provide both knowledge and testing around these issues.”
In particular, Mr Staker is looking to develop ChemCentre’s role in assisting industry with the remediation and rehabilitation of industrial and mining sites.
"We have strengths in areas such as soil quality and amendments, and plant and nutrient deficiencies.
"However, the difference between ChemCentre and some commercial laboratories is that ChemCentre has valuable staff expertise, with the capacity to interpret and add value to analytical results.”
Mr Staker also understands the importance of balancing scientific thinking with creativity. As an award-winning watercolour artist, he is currently planning a solo exhibition - when he finds the time!
To discuss your soil, plant and nutrient needs, contact Rick Staker on (08) 9422 9987 or email rstaker@chemcentre.wa.gov.au.
ChemCentre is moving
ChemCentre is relocating to new premises as part of the Resources and Chemistry Precinct on the Curtin University site at Bentley.
Please note: ChemCentre's relocation will be staggered, in order to keep service disruption to a minimum. Please call our switchboard (+61 8 9422 9800) in order to determine the most relevant information for your requirements.
From September 9, 2009 the new contact details are as follows:
Postal address
ChemCentre
PO Box 1250
Bentley WA 6983
Street address
ChemCentre
Resources and Chemistry Precinct
South Wing, Building 500
South Entrance Drive (off Manning Road)
Curtin University
Bentley WA 6102
Freight and large sample deliveries
Deliver to the Resources and Chemistry Precinct Service and Delivery Area. Enter via Conlon Street (off Manning Road).
Small sample deliveries
Deliver to the Resources and Chemistry Precinct Service and Delivery Area or to ChemCentre reception (Level 2, enter via the ramp). Enter the visitor carpark via South Entrance Drive (off Manning Road).
Delivery times: 8.00am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday
Visitor access
Visitors must report to ChemCentre reception upon arrival. Please park in the visitor carpark. Be aware visitors and delivery personnel cannot be admitted through the Service and Delivery Area.
New name, new logo, new website
The Chemistry Centre recently launched this new website, reflecting changes flowing from its new status as a Statutory Authority.
The changes included a new name - ChemCentre - and the new logo which depicts several interlocking hexagons.
Those with a chemistry background may at first think of these as an organic cyclic compound. Other interpretations include a depiction of clay minerals or even the management structure of the ChemCentre, where several sections combine to make the whole organisation.
A special feature of the logo is the selection of the purple colour - Perkin's mauve, also known as aniline purple or mauveine.
It was the first synthetic organic chemical dye, mostly 3-amino-2,±9-dimethyl-5-phenyl-7-(p-tolylamino) phenazinium acetate, and was created by chance in 1856 by 18-year-old, William Perkin while trying to synthesize quinine
In one of his attempts to perform the synthesis, Perkin oxidized aniline using potassium dichromate. Under the conditions used and in reaction with the toluidine impurities, a black precipitate formed which had an alcohol soluble purple component. This 'by product' of a failed synthesis proved to be an effective dye for silk and other fabrics, effectively spawning the synthetic organic chemistry industry.
Interestingly, the actual molecular structure of mauveine proved quite difficult to determine and was not known with certainty until 1994. The dye, as produced, is actually a mixture of organic compounds which differ only in the number and placement of methyl groups. The full elucidation of all of the isomers was only determined in 2007.
Our website aims to contain more information, more easily accessed by clients, illustrating the breadth of services and collaborative research we undertake. We welcome your feedback on our new site.
Our critical role in Esperance lead clean-up
ChemCentre is continuing to work with the Department of Health, Planning and Infrastructure, Conservation and Environment and Esperance Shire to resolve the Esperance Lead issue.
Parts of Esperance were contaminated by lead carbonate ore, shipped from Wiluna via truck and rail to the port of Esperance. Several procedures during this transport resulted in lead dust being emitted into the Esperance environment.
As widely reported at the time, a series of bird deaths alerted authorities to the problem. We analysed samples of these birds, leading to the conclusion that lead was implicated in their deaths.
Since that time samples of dust, soil, plant, fish and other materials have been analysed at ChemCentre. All of the analyses have been carried out with rigorous regard to turnaround time, quality assurance and forensic significance. Samples of blood and urine have been analysed separately by the Health Department of WA.
Some level of lead would be expected to be found in the environment as it occurs naturally in some materials and from the long term use of leaded petrol. These 'background' levels would be expected to be quite low, though some higher levels would be expected in certain industrial areas (foundries for instance) or where hobbies (such as lead lighting) involve the use of lead.
In this case it was important to confirm the source of the lead in Esperance. As such, ChemCentre developed techniques of isotopically 'fingerprinting' the lead contained in the samples to determine its source.
We are now working with the Esperance Clean up and Recovery Project team in the phase of the project that will lead to remediation of the Esperance environment.
Pictured above is a dust sample collected by ChemCentre staff (photo courtesy of Dr J. Ottaway).
