www.llnl.gov Open in urlscan Pro
2606:4700::6812:4f5  Public Scan

URL: https://www.llnl.gov/article/44176/fsc-earns-8th-straight-opcw-tests
Submission: On December 07 via api from US — Scanned from DE

Form analysis 2 forms found in the DOM

POST /llnl-search

<form action="/llnl-search" method="post" id="llnl-header-search-form" accept-charset="UTF-8">
  <div class="search-form">
    <div id="edit-description" class="form-item js-form-item form-type-item js-form-type-item form-item-description js-form-item-description form-no-label form-group">
    </div>
    <div class="form-group form-group-search has-feedback">
      <div class="sr-only">Search</div>
      <div class="form-item js-form-item form-type-textfield js-form-type-textfield form-item-searchterm js-form-item-searchterm form-no-label form-group">
        <input aria-label="Search" title="Search" data-drupal-selector="edit-searchterm" class="form-text form-control" type="text" id="edit-searchterm" name="searchterm" value="" size="60" maxlength="128">
      </div>
      <span class="glyphicon glyphicon-search form-control-feedback"></span>
    </div><input data-drupal-selector="edit-searchspace" type="hidden" name="searchspace" value="all"><button class="block-btn button js-form-submit form-submit btn-primary btn icon-before" data-drupal-selector="edit-submit" type="submit"
      id="edit-submit" name="op" value="Search"><span class="icon glyphicon glyphicon-search" aria-hidden="true"></span> Search</button><input data-drupal-selector="form-zwhlwpofiwihq2irx4tzi3rmqgyp41z3jb9xomwrjuu" type="hidden" name="form_build_id"
      value="form-ZwhlWPOFIWIhq2irX4TZi3rmQgyp41z3jB9xOmwrJUU"><input data-drupal-selector="edit-llnl-header-search-form" type="hidden" name="form_id" value="llnl_header_search_form">
  </div>
</form>

POST /llnl-search

<form action="/llnl-search" method="post" id="llnl-header-search-form--6" accept-charset="UTF-8">
  <div class="search-form">
    <div id="edit-description--6" class="form-item js-form-item form-type-item js-form-type-item form-item-description js-form-item-description form-no-label form-group">
    </div>
    <div class="form-group form-group-search has-feedback">
      <div class="sr-only">Search</div>
      <div class="form-item js-form-item form-type-textfield js-form-type-textfield form-item-searchterm js-form-item-searchterm form-no-label form-group">
        <input aria-label="Search" title="Search" data-drupal-selector="edit-searchterm" class="form-text form-control" type="text" id="edit-searchterm--6" name="searchterm" value="" size="60" maxlength="128">
      </div>
      <span class="glyphicon glyphicon-search form-control-feedback"></span>
    </div><input data-drupal-selector="edit-searchspace" type="hidden" name="searchspace" value="all"><button class="block-btn button js-form-submit form-submit btn-primary btn icon-before" data-drupal-selector="edit-submit" type="submit"
      id="edit-submit--6" name="op" value="Search"><span class="icon glyphicon glyphicon-search" aria-hidden="true"></span> Search</button><input data-drupal-selector="form-udqnhjul44f3glecibjexqqfugbxbgw2s1lotf1drk8" type="hidden"
      name="form_build_id" value="form-UdQnHjUL44f3GLECIBjEXQQFuGBXbGw2S1LoTf1Drk8"><input data-drupal-selector="edit-llnl-header-search-form-6" type="hidden" name="form_id" value="llnl_header_search_form">
  </div>
</form>

Text Content

Menu
 * Our Purpose Open submenu
 * Our Science and TechnologyOpen submenu

   Our Science and Technology
   
   Advanced Materials and Manufacturing
   
   Bioscience and Bioengineering
   
   Earth and Atmospheric Science
   
   Facilities, Centers and Institutes
   
   High Energy Density Science
   
   HPC, Simulation and Data Science
   
   Lasers & Optical Science and Technology
   
   Nuclear, Chemical & Isotopic Science and Technology
   
   Learn How We Make
   Science and Technology Happen
   
   We support diverse research activities with talented staff, state-of-the-art
   facilities and core competencies. From internal collaboration to external
   partnerships, we work together to advance scientific discovery.
   
   Learn More About Our Science and Technology

 * Join Our Team Open submenu
 * Partner With Us
 * NewsOpen submenu

   News
   
   Highlights
   
   Media Contacts
   
   Media Library
   
   Publications
   
   Lab Report
   
   Fact Sheets
   
   Social Media
   
   Exascale Computing
   Comes to LLNL
   
   The El Capitan supercomputer will give complex high-fidelity modeling,
   artificial intelligence and simulation an exascale boost. Learn how it will
   support national security and stockpile stewardship.
   
   Learn More About Exascale Computing

 * Community and Education Open submenu
 * About LLNL Open submenu

Close submenuOur Purpose
 * Our Mission
 * Management and Sponsors
 * Our History Open submenu

Close submenuOur History
 * Our History - 1950s
 * Our History - 1960s
 * Our History - 1970s
 * Our History - 1980s
 * Our History - 1990s
 * Our History - 2000s
 * Our History - 2010s
 * Our History - 2020s

Close submenuOur Science and Technology
 * Advanced Materials and Manufacturing
 * Bioscience & Bioengineering
 * Earth and Atmospheric Science
 * Facilities and Centers
 * High-Energy-Density Science
 * HPC, Simulation and Data Science
 * Lasers and Optical Science and Technology
 * Nuclear, Chemical and Isotopic Science and Technology

Close submenuJoin Our Team
 * Careers Open submenu
 * Culture
 * Diversity

Close submenuCareers
 * Career Areas
 * Students
 * Postdocs
 * Events & Resources
 * LCA Notifications
 * Affiliate Opportunities
 * Accessibility

Close submenuNews
 * Media Contacts
 * Media Library
 * Publications
 * Lab Report
 * Fact Sheets
 * Social Media

Close submenuCommunity and Education
 * Discovery Center
 * Community Giving
 * Science Education
 * Environment, Safety, and Health
 * Employee and Retirement Resources Open submenu
 * Tours

Close submenuEmployee and Retirement Resources
 * Want Ads
 * In Memoriam

Close submenuAbout LLNL
 * Our Leadership
 * By the Numbers
 * Our Organizations Open submenu
 * Protocol and Special Events
 * Visiting
 * Directions
 * Contact

Close submenuOur Organizations
 * Operations and Business

Skip to main content
 * Our Purpose
 * Our Science and Technology
 * Join Our Team
 * Partner with Us
 * News
 * Community and Education
 * About


PRIMARY MENU

 * Our Purpose
   * Our Mission
   * Management and Sponsors
   * Our History
     * Our History - 1950s
     * Our History - 1960s
     * Our History - 1970s
     * Our History - 1980s
     * Our History - 1990s
     * Our History - 2000s
     * Our History - 2010s
     * Our History - 2020s
 * Our Science and Technology
 * Join Our Team
   * Careers
     * Career Areas
     * Students
     * Postdocs
     * Events & Resources
     * LCA Notifications
     * Affiliate Opportunities
     * Accessibility
   * Culture
   * Diversity
 * Partner With Us
 * News
 * Community and Education
   * Discovery Center
   * Community Giving
   * Science Education
   * Environment, Safety, and Health
   * Employee and Retirement Resources
     * Want Ads
     * In Memoriam
   * Tours
 * About LLNL
   * Our Leadership
   * By the Numbers
   * Our Organizations
     * Operations and Business
   * Protocol and Special Events
   * Visiting
   * Directions
   * Contact

Search

Search

Search

Search


MOBILE MENU

SITE MENU

 * Our Purpose
 * Our Science and Technology
 * Join Our Team
 * Partner With Us
 * News
 * Community and Education
 * About LLNL

LLNL MENU

 * Missions
 * Research
 * Doing Business
 * News
 * About
 * Careers
 * Community

Our Science and Technology

Advanced Materials and Manufacturing

Bioscience and Bioengineering

Earth and Atmospheric Science

Facilities, Centers and Institutes

High Energy Density Science

HPC, Simulation and Data Science

Lasers & Optical Science and Technology

Nuclear, Chemical & Isotopic Science and Technology

Learn How We Make
Science and Technology Happen

We support diverse research activities with talented staff, state-of-the-art
facilities and core competencies. From internal collaboration to external
partnerships, we work together to advance scientific discovery.

Learn More About Our Science and Technology

News

Highlights

Media Contacts

Media Library

Publications

Lab Report

Fact Sheets

Social Media

Exascale Computing
Comes to LLNL

The El Capitan supercomputer will give complex high-fidelity modeling,
artificial intelligence and simulation an exascale boost. Learn how it will
support national security and stockpile stewardship.

Learn More About Exascale Computing


Back


FSC EARNS 8TH STRAIGHT A IN OPCW TESTS

(Download Image) LLNL synthesis chemist Carlos Valdez, who was part of the
Livermore team that took the proficiency test for the Organization for the
Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, analyzes a reference standard using nuclear
magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Photos by George Kitrinos/LLNL

During its 15 years as a certified laboratory for the (link is
external)Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), a score of
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) chemists have developed some
first-rate habits.

One of them is earning A grades on the organization's environmental proficiency
tests. In recently announced results, LLNL earned its eighth straight A grade
during last fall's OPCW proficiency tests, which are typically announced three
to four months after the test.

Every October, Livermore scientists and those from other laboratories around the
world attempt to identify any "suspected" chemical weapons compounds in six
samples within a 15-day period in the OPCW proficiency tests.

To retain their OPCW certification, LLNL and the other OPCW-designated
laboratories must maintain a three-year rolling average of at least two A grades
and one B in the ongoing tests.

"The chemical analysis capability that is exercised through the OPCW proficiency
tests is foundational to much of the research and real-world sample analysis we
perform," said Brad Hart, director of the Lab's Forensic Science Center (FSC),
which handles LLNL's OPCW efforts.

Despite earning eight straight A's, Armando Alcaraz, the principal investigator
for the Lab's OPCW efforts since 2000, emphasizes that there is never any room
for complacency during the proficiency tests.

"One mistake could lead to missing a reportable compound and result in a full
letter grade reduction, or even worse, the misinterpretation of analytical data
could lead to a false positive, which results in an F grade and the loss of a
lab's OPCW designation," Alcaraz said.

"We take every proficiency test very seriously because we understand that each
test is different and that the spiking materials and matrices can vary in
complexity," Alcaraz explained. "You cannot standardize your approach to
analyzing these proficiency test samples."

Last fall's most recent proficiency test for Lab chemists started Oct. 26 when
six test substances, three simulated mechanical pump oil samples and three
simulated aqueous decontamination emulsions collected from a suspected site,
arrived at the FSC laboratory. The test ran for 15 days, ending Nov. 9.

In the proficiency test for the two types of samples, the Livermore researchers
correctly identified all seven reportable spiked chemicals as well as a
non-scheduled reportable chemical in one of the three emulsions.

"This year's proficiency test was designed to reflect some of the real-world
samples that OPCW labs have had to analyze," Alcaraz said. "The samples
contained some of the most chemically complex matrices participating
laboratories have encountered in these tests.

"Several of the samples in this year's proficiency test contained reportable
chemicals at very high concentrations that saturated our analytical systems. The
challenge then was to identify other compounds of interest that may have been
masked by the high concentrations of the reportable compounds."





Another challenge for the Lab chemists, he said, came as the team tried
different methods to extract target analytes from the aqueous decontamination
emulsion samples using solvents they normally utilize. Instead, the solvents
formed gel-like materials with the emulsion.

"As a result, we had to find alternative solvents that wouldn't produce a gel
with the emulsion, enabling us to isolate our key compounds," Alcaraz said.

During each proficiency test, the participating OPCW labs receive two sample
matrices, each containing three samples, none of which are identified -- a blank
sample, a quality control sample and an authentic sample.

LLNL received its original OPCW certification in 2003. Its work is carried out
by the Laboratory's FSC as a part of the Global Security Principal Directorate's
Nonproliferation Program. The other U.S.-designated laboratory is the Aberdeen
Proving Ground, Maryland-based Edgewood Chemical Biological Center.

The OPCW oversees compliance for the (link is external)Chemical Weapons
Convention (CWC) treaty, which has been in force since 1997 and currently has
192 nations. One nation has signed but not ratified (Israel). Three other states
have neither signed nor ratified (Egypt, North Korea and South Sudan).

Under the CWC treaty, the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling and
use of chemical weapons is banned, as is the transfer of chemical-weapon-related
technologies.

Under a condition set by the U.S. Senate during its ratification of the CWC, all
samples taken by OPCW inspectors at U.S. chemical plants must be analyzed in the
United States.

The Laboratory's OPCW work is funded by the (link is external)National Nuclear
Security Administration's Office of Nuclear Verification (NA-243).

The samples for last October's proficiency test, taken by LLNL and 13 other
laboratories around the world, were prepared by the DGA CBRN Defence Laboratory
of France. The participating laboratories' test reports were then evaluated by
the VERTOX Laboratory of India. Two of Livermore's A grades were received for
serving as the OPCW's evaluation lab, grading analyses.

Out of the 14 laboratories that participated in the October OPCW proficiency
test, six earned A grades, two received B's, three garnered C's, two received
D's and one received an F.

 

March 14, 2018


CONTACT

Stephen Wampler
wampler1@llnl.gov
(925) 423-3107


RELATED LINKS

(link is external)Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons



TAGS

Global Security
Physical and Life Sciences



FEATURED ARTICLES


Fast-curing silicone ink opens new doors in 3D printing

Big Ideas Lab takes a closer look at NARAC

Malik Wagih’s global exploration of material defects

LLNL.GOV

 * Our Purpose
 * Our Science and Technology
 * Join Our Team
 * Partner with Us
 * News
 * Community and Education
 * About LLNL

ORGANIZATIONS

 * Computing
 * Engineering
 * Global Security
 * National Ignition Facility and Photon Science
 * Operations and Business
 * Physical and Life Sciences
 * Strategic Deterrence

RESOURCES

 * Contact
 * Visiting
 * Emergency Communication
 * Research Ethics
 * Disclaimer
 * Copyright and Reuse
 * Sitemap

STAY CONNECTED

STAY CONNECTED

LLNL.GOV


 * Our Purpose
 * Our Science and Technology
 * Join Our Team
 * Partner with Us
 * News
 * Community and Education
 * About LLNL

ORGANIZATIONS


 * Computing
 * Engineering
 * Global Security
 * National Ignition Facility and Photon Science
 * Operations and Business
 * Physical and Life Sciences
 * Strategic Deterrence

RESOURCES


 * Contact
 * Visiting
 * Emergency Communication
 * Research Ethics
 * Disclaimer
 * Copyright and Reuse
 * Sitemap

STAY CONNECTED



Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
 | 7000 East Avenue • Livermore, CA 94550 | LLNL-WEB-458451
Operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC for the Department of
Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration Learn about the Department of
Energy's Vulnerability Disclosure Program

Home Disclaimer Privacy Notice




Close menu