Papers are embargoed until date and time of presentation.
Click here for Abstract 1, here for Abstract 2, and here for Abstract 3.
HONOLULU - The latest research from Australian scientists will be presented at the 2000 International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies, December 14-19, 2000.
The weeklong scientific meeting, held once every five years, is hosted by the American Chemical Society, in conjunction with its counterparts in Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand.
Australian chemists will present new findings on topics including (papers are embargoed for release until date and time of presentation):
Rubber degradation - Researchers at Monash University have found a way to use a high-tech measurement technique - nuclear magnetic resonance - to determine degradation in rubber products, such as tires, seals and conveyor belts. The noninvasive technique allows people, particularly those involved with maintenance, to more accurately predict the usable lifetime left in rubber products. (MACR 89, 11:05 a.m., Friday, Dec. 15)
Pesticides in wine - In an effort that may lead to a better wine, an Australian research team has developed new, high-tech methods to detect insecticides and fungicides in wine and grapes. The methods, which use a technique called enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), appear to be as good as standard screening methods. The researchers are also developing antibody-based diagnostics for detecting fungal contaminants in order to improve wine quality. (AGRO 278, 2.45 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 17)
Antibiotics from unusual sources - Drug-resistant pathogens are a major public health threat worldwide. Researchers at Australian National University are attempting to attack this problem by searching for novel antibiotics in unusual sources: cultured fungi derived from animal dung and insects. (ORGN 1343, 9 a.m., Monday, Dec. 18)
More than 8,000 research papers will be presented during this year's International Chemical Congress, which is sponsored jointly by the ACS, the Chemical Society of Japan, the Canadian Society of Chemistry, the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry.