On 21 May 2013, the Kapisanang Kimika ng Pilipinas – Division of Analytical Sciences (KKP-DAS) held a two-day training course on “Measurement Uncertainty in Analytical Chemistry: A Hands-on Approach” at the Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corporation (PASAR) in Isabel, Leyte. This significant training course revisits the fundamental principles, evaluation strategies and the general prominence of measurement uncer-tainty in chemical analysis amid the changing landscape and demands of Analytical science.

The decision whether a given result indicates compliance or non-compliance with a specification, it is necessary to take into account the measurement uncertainty associated with the result. The training included hands-on experiences on the identification of sources and spread-sheet calculation of uncertainty in chemistry measurements. The training team was led by Dr. Fortunato Sevilla III of the University of Santo Tomas and Dr. Lilibeth Coo of the University of the Philippines. The seminar includes a discussion and general recommendations, followed by more detailed instructions on establishing rules for interpretation and by several examples.

Participants came from various segments within PASAR to include its laboratory managers, supervisors, analysts and technicians. Participant worked on exercises on the quantification of measurement uncertainty, using in-house chemical analysis data. Measurement uncertainty has become an important parameter for the global quality and acceptability of the results of chemical measurements.  It is used as the basis for decision on the fitness for purpose of the results of chemical analysis.  It is a requirement in the documentation of measurement data in ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratories. This training course was a sequel to the previous workshop that KKP-DAS conducted for PASAR on “Quality Measurements in the Analytical Laboratory” held last December 2012.

Nominations for membership in the ICP board are now open. Three board members, one representative each from the industry, government and academe will be elected to serve a three-year term (2013-2016). Members of the board are expected to reguarly attend meetings of the ICP and actively participate in the activities geared towards achieving the objectives of the ICP as follows.

Continue reading→

by Jay V. Ranoco

Testing one’s skill and measure it against fellow students who share the same passion in chemistry is no easy coup. The PACSiklaban, an annual inter-collegiate Chemistry Quiz Show organized by the Philippine Association of Chemistry Students (PACS), is an avenue to showcase this challenge. This year’s PACSiklaban was held last February 17, 2013 at the Bulwagang Tandang Sora, College of Social Works and Community Development, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City. The competing teams are from Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU), Adamson University (AdU), Central Luzon State University (CLSU), De La Salle University (DLSU), Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), Tarlac State University (TSU), University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), University of the Philippines Manila (UPM), University of Santo Tomas Biochemistry (USTB) and University of Santo Tomas Chemistry (USTC) represent the best breed of chemistry students in the country.

Teams battled it out to answer questions based from Analytical, Biochemistry, Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry. This year’s PACSiklaban contest judges includes Drs. Ronald Fabicon (Ateno), Mafel Ysrael (UST), Luis Rodriguez (DLSU) and Florenda Valera (UP). The Chairman of the Board was Dr. Ernesto Del Rosario who also judges the Physical Chemistry Category.

The six highest scoring teams in the Elimination Round proceed to the Final Round. Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, University of the Philippines (Diliman), University of the Philippines (Los Baños), University of the Philippines (Manila) and University of Santo Tomas Chemistry were the teams who qualified for the Final Round. After 10 questions in Easy Round and 15 equations each for the Average and Difficult Rounds, the team from University of the Philippines Diliman emerged victorious followed by the University of the Philippines (Los Baños) and University of the Philippines (Manila) finishing first and Second Runner-up. The third, fourth and fifth Runner-ups were taken by Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University and the University of Santo Tomas Chemistry, respectively.

PACSiklaban 2013 was made possible through the efforts of PACS Executive Committee and General Assembly 2013-2014 together with the Ramos Sison Review Center and Shimadzu. PACSiklaban was also brought to you by Hapee, Piknik, Uniball, Lamoiyan Corporation, Wacoal and DZUP 1602.

By Karen Valeza | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom – Mon, Apr 15, 2013 12:16 AM PHT

(UPDATE) Ariella Arida is crowned Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 2013.

The stunning lady who hails from Laguna bested 49 other contestants during the coronation night held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday night, April 14. The 24-year-old winner is a Chemistry graduate from UP Los Baños.

Read the entire article from Yahoo! OMG! Philippines.

The Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies (PFCS), in cooperation with Dow Chemicals, Chemrez, Boysen, and Shell, is proud to present the top three winners for the 3rd Children’s On-the-Spot Poster Making Competition: Isabelle Manto from Saint Jude Catholic School (1st place), Gabrielle Kristine Entice from South City Central School (2nd place), and Jean Edsel Gonzalbo from Tomas Morato Elementary School (3rd place).

Isabelle Manto
Saint Jude Catholic School
FIRST PLACE

Gabrielle Kristine Entice
South City Central School
SECOND PLACE

Gabrielle Kristine Entice
Jean Edsel Gonzalbo
Tomas Morato Elementary School
THIRD PLACE

The competition with the theme: “A better life with Chemistry”, was held for the first time at the National level last February 11, 2013 in 9 venues/Universities; Ateneo de Davao University, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University-Manila, Silliman University, University of San Carlos, University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines-Diliman, University of the Philippines-Los Banos, and Xavier University.

The criteria for judging were based on the following: 40% on creativity, 30% on originality, and 30% on relevance to the theme. The top three winners were chosen from a pool of 28 finalists (three finalists were selected by each of the nine host schools) by a panel of judges: Mr. Joseph F. Galian (Faculty of College of Saint Benilde-School of Design and Arts, Faculty of UP Diliman-College of Fine Arts, and Art Director & Photo Director-(Digital Head Quarters) DHQ Studio), Dr. Armando Guidote (Licensed Chemist, Associate Dean for Research and Creative Work-Ateneo de Manila University, and President of PFCS), and Dr. Jaime Janairo (Licensed Chemist, Faculty and Graduate School Coordinator- Department of Chemistry, De La Salle University-Manila).

As part of the awarding ceremonies, the event will be held during the 28th Philippine Chemistry Congress in Silliman University, Dumaguete. The winning posters will be exhibited during the Congress and the 1st place winner (Ms. Isabelle Manto), together with her coach will receive free accommodations and round trip airfare ticket to Dumaguete.

Congratulations and see you there!

The local winners of the 3rd National Children’s On-the-Spot Poster Making Competition held in Ateneo de Manila were awarded last 05 March at the Leong Hall Roof Deck during the School of Science and Engineering Week.

The winners were Christian Luke Alarcon from Pinyahan Elementary School, Edsel Gonzalbo from Tomas Morato Elementary School and Jedidiah Abraham from Marikina Elementary School. They will compete in the national finals against the 3 winners each of the contest held in 8 other university venues from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The winners were given the awards by Mr. Henry Siy, General Manager of Chemrez Technologies, a major sponsor of the event. Mr. Siy was assisted by Dr. Nestor Valera, Chair of the Department of Chemistry of Ateneo de Manila and Dr. Rene Angelo Macahig, local organizing head in Ateneo de Manila.

Mr. Henry Siy, Chemrez Technologies, Inc. General Manager with the local National Children’s On-the-Spot Poster Making Competition from Ateneo: Christian Luke Alarcon, Edsel Gonzalbo and Jedidiah Abraham. Also shown are the coaches and Dr. Rene Angelo Macahig, the Ateneo de Manila organizing head.

The Children On-the-Spot Poster Making Competition is an annual event that aspires to give young people an early exposure to science and elicit their understanding of the role of chemistry in everyday life. This activity hopes to contribute to a greater public interest in and appreciation of chemistry, particularly among the youth.

The contest is organized by the Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies in cooperation with different Philippine universities. For 2013, the theme for the contest is “A Better Life with Chemistry”. It is open to students, Grades 4 to 7, and held in nine participating institutions during Chemistry Week from 09-16 February 2013. This is the first time the activity was implemented nationwide.

Other major sponsors of the event are Dow Chemical Philippines, Inc., Shell Philippines, Inc. and Pacific Paint (Boysen), Inc.

Heide R. Rabanes, a PhD student of the Department of Chemistry,  Ateneo de Manila University published another research work entitled Synergistic effect of field enhanced sample injection on micelle to solvent stacking in capillary electrophoresis in the December 2012 issue of the Journal of Chromatography A (JCA).  The work was co-authored with Agnes T. Aranas, also an Ateneo PhD student who graduated last March 2012. The JCA is known for its stringent requirements and evaluation of original research and critical reviews on all aspects of fundamental and applied separation science. The techniques in her research work falls under electromigration techniques which includes electrophoresis. Electrophoresis is the process where a certain voltage is applied and this causes the movement of ions across a conductive medium where they migrate towards the electrode with an opposite charge.

Rabanes presented a two-step preconcentration or stacking strategy which addressed the sensitivity issue of capillary electrophoretic techniques employing ultraviolet detection. The research work was motivated by the fact that while capillary electrophoresis is a powerful analytical separation technique for small and large molecules, its sensitivity suffers when applied to real samples containing very minute concentrations. This work provided a new approach to overcome this shortcoming and reported a thousand-fold enhancement in sensitivity enhancement. The technique was successfully evaluated with antipsychotic drugs and applied to spiked urine sample after a simple extraction procedure.

Rabanes is a faculty member of Xavier University–Ateneo de Cagayan. She is currently on study leave to pursue her PhD studies. She is a recipient of a scholarship grant from the Commission on Higher Education and is presently being funded for a one-year Sandwich Program for a thesis research project in an overseas laboratory at the University of Tasmania (UTAS), Australia. She is under the supervision of Dr. Joselito P. Quirino, an Associate Professor of the School of Chemistry’s Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science and under Dr. Armando M. Guidote Jr. in the Ateneo de Manila University.

A Polymer is a long thread-like chain formed by attachment of similar molecules. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is one of the most widely produced polymer in the world today. It is formed by polymerizing or ‘attaching’ methylmethacrylate (MMA) and is used in household items, in paints and as a substitute for glass. PMMA is compatible with the human body so it has several biomedical applications also which includes dental bases, bone filler and intraocular lens.

Glycerol is a highly hydrophilic or ‘water-loving’ species, a byproduct obtained from the soap making process and from the biofuel industry. It is also generated by hydrolysis of coconut oil. It mainly finds its application as a sweetening agent, stabilizer in food industries and humectants in cosmetic formulations.

As part of our project we cross-linked or ‘tied up’ PMMA chains while synthesizing it using glycerol to form a 3D polymer network to encapsulate N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET), a mosquito repellant. The networks were reduced to nano size capsules prior to DEET encapsulation.  When the polymer swelled in a solvent, DEET entered the porous network of the polymer and got captured. They were released slowly when the network got squeezed by changing the solvent. Instead of using chemicals to crosslink glycerol and PMMA, the group used commercially available benign enzymes as ‘biocatalyst’ to speed up the reaction and to eliminate the chance of inducing toxicity from a chemical catalyst.  The concept of encapsulation and release of DEET from PMMA network is schematically represented as following:

Encapsulation and Release of DEET from the polymeric network of PMMA formed by crosslinking PMMA with glycerol

DEET is one of the most effective mosquito repellent available in the market and is available in the form of lotions, creams, gels and aerosol spray. However, these formulations utilize DEET inefficiently. Most of the DEET is lost within a few hours of application due to perspiration, rub off and other activities.  To go beyond six hours the concentration of DEET needs to be increased or the repellent needs to be reapplied.With the use of our formulation where DEET remains encapsulated inside the polymeric network, slow and controlled release of DEET was observed beyond 10h. The study establishes that DEET encapsulated inside the polymeric network of PMMA gets released at a controlled rate for prolonged period and can be further studied for the development of a long lasting mosquito repellant formulation.

A copy of the article is available online at 10.1016/j.msec.2012.06.001.

Dr. Soma Chakraborty is currently an Associate Professor at the Chemistry Department of Ateneo de Manila University. She finished her PhD in Polymer Chemistry at the Polytechnic University of New York. Her research interests include biocatalytic synthesis, modification of organic and macromolecules, and polymeric vehicles as controlled release system.