Spectra library ready for check out

A new e-commerce site introduced by the William R. Wiley Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory may provide information that can be used, for example, in monitoring trace gases in the atmosphere or in improving chemical processes to demonstrate compliance with government guidelines.

The Web site provides unlimited access to the Laboratory's unique infrared absorption spectra library for a one-time registration fee of $200. The information is designed to help interpret data collected by spectrometers used to monitor gas emissions. Collected data can be matched against those contained in the library. By comparing the amount of absorption at certain wavelengths, the user can accurately identify the compound or compounds being released.

The library currently contains close to 100 compounds with new compounds being added every three months. Researchers plan to create a database of more than 400 compounds by 2005. The high-resolution data are taken according to National Institute of Standards and Technology protocols.

For more information and to register, see http://nwir.pnl.gov.