Scott Specialty Gases
"Scott/NIST Partnership To Develop Ultra-low Propane SRM"
December 16, 2004, Plumsteadville, PA

Scott Specialty Gases recently announced it has begun preliminary work to develop a 0.1 parts-per-million (ppm) propane Standard Reference Material (SRM) precursor for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The project was initiated at the request of the American Industry/Government Emissions Research Consortium (AIGER) and will ultimately result in NIST selling the new propane SRM to emissions testers for measuring trace amounts of propane in automobile exhaust. Traceability to a NIST standard is a critical requirement for calibration gases when complying with EPA environmental regulations.

Scott Specialty Gases is the sole-source producer of gaseous SRM candidates for NIST. In 2002, Scott developed two low nitric oxide (NO) SRM precursors at 0.5 and 1.0 ppm concentrations, also at the request of AIGER to facilitate measurement of low levels of NO in automotive emissions. The NIST/Scott initiative has resulted in several reactive gas innovations, including a unique cylinder inerting process that protects calibration gas against contamination from the cylinder in which the gas is contained. The process advancement also extends shelf life of the gas, thereby eliminating the need for annual recertification.

Originally founded in October of 1992, AIGER established a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to develop test instrumentation and techniques for measuring auto emissions, and to make them readily available commercially. AIGER s CRADA unites engineers and scientists from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the California Air Resources Board and the Environmental Research Consortium (ERC). The ERC includes representatives from Chrysler, Ford, General Motors and Navistar and functions under the auspices of the U.S. Council for Automotive Research (USCAR).

Metrology institutes throughout the world, such as NIST and the Netherlands Measurement Institute (NMi), often select Scott Specialty Gases to produce reference standards and cylinder treatment processes because of Scott s reputation for successful development of challenging specialty gases. Scott is the world s largest supplier of EPA protocol gases and is a worldwide supplier of pure and mixed gases for applications that include natural gas, environmental, laboratory, industrial, medical and semiconductor applications. Scott maintains numerous manufacturing facilities in both the U.S. and Europe. Scottgas.com features online ordering, eScott; Online Supply Chain Management and other innovative etools that empower Scott customers to substantially reduce operating costs.

For more information about Scott products and services, visit www.scottgas.com, call 800-21-SCOTT or email to techserv@scottgas.com.

Scott Specialty Gases