"ITt's time to change the conventional way of sampling systems, and with the new technology in microprocessors we now have that opportunity," said Rob Dubois of Dow Chemical in Alberta toward the end of 2001.
"We ultimately want to get small analytical sensors miniaturized-allowing a platform
for lab on a chip-to use in spectroscopy techniques and miniature chromatography."Dubois and colleagues Peter van Vuuren and Jeffrey Gunnell authored a revision and update of the New Sampling/Sensor Initiative (NeSSI) Generation II specification this summer. NeSSI is the vehicle by which Dubois and many others are marshalling tiny analytical sensor technology.
The initiative began in 1999 at the Center for Process Analytical Chemistry (CPAC, www.cpac.washington.edu) sponsor meeting to explore the potential of miniature process analyzer sample system components.
ARC Advisory Forum (www.arcweb.com) analyst Paula Hollywood provided this overview to InTech magazine.
Originally established in 1984 as a National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center, CPAC has evolved into a self-sustaining, multi-industry, multidisciplined consortium dedicated to meeting manufacturing's evolving requirements for real-time analysis.