a dozen days

That's right, after 16 months of "research", I have achieved a mere 12 days in the pilot actually doing some practical work.

By now I was expecting to write my first journal article after collecting the initial set of experimental results. I've also written an application for a fellowship, postponing my "research" for three months if successful. However I needed to obtain departmental permission, which was rejected because of a preference to concentrate on completing the "research". As soon as questions were asked about experimental data and thesis structure, I knew my application was doomed. Admitting such a pitifully low level of actual "research" was almost certain to open a Pandora's box, so it seemed to me the best option was to withdraw from making my application. Goodbye bursary and useful experience.

I forgot to add to my previous post, this time last week my fellow students and I were in possession, for the first time, of a key to access to the laboratories! All we need now is equipment that is in operation!

Could not continue

Last week I was more positive for the future; at last, some progress! For the first time, the combustion equipment was in continuous operation for 4 days (Friday reserved for equipment shutdown), in order to test the thermocouples (which were not well documented but that another story) and install the necessary software. I decided to use my previous desktop computer because it had 4 usb ports for the data logger (and surprise surprise, the existing computer doesn't).

So, entering this week I was expecting to be able to test the sample dioxin analysis collection apparutus (see photograph). My hopes were crushed by the regular review meeting, to be told that yet again, the equipment will be off operation for two weeks; new duct work for the additional oxy-firing functionality, but more importantly the environmental management audit (iso14001 accreditation). I'll be amazed if our departmental labs pass this audit: the places are a complete mess. Unlabelled samples, tools ALWAYS randomly left all over the area, redundant 'equipment' (i.e. non-functional ancient junk), etc. Time will tell. Whilst that is going on, I shall keep a low profile off campus...

In the doldrums

"...if you could get it done before the end of the month that would be excellent." Yes, these very words amuse me each time I read them. They are concerning a request to perform icpms analysis of some biomass material; a request made way back in mid-September! That's right; approaching Christmas and no prospect in sight of completing this task.

So what went wrong? One word: bureacracy. One would have a thought that a so-called top-rated university would be efficient when it came to facilitating basic research. For example having chemicals on site. Or even glassware. Hell no. As for administrative documentation, more hell. First stop, a laboratory with furnace ovens (dry ash formation method of sample preparation): "have you done a risk assessment?". Just to burn biomass?

OK, let's see if the wet ash method can be used. "Have you received laboratory induction training? Access to these labs denied until training completed.". "No risk assessment or coshh forms? Go away, complete these and come back to us." Only upon error ridden form completion and submission to lab staff, is it admitted that actually, student researchers are not supposed to complete these forms! To protect the guilty, those who should be completing such forms shall not be mentioned...

Of course, wet chemistry requires chemicals; well to some "shock and awe", there are no chemicals on site. That's right, none. OK, just have to buy some then; allegedly it takes two weeks to order. As for the icpms, that is not available for a few weeks. In the meantime, an order is compiled for the flue gas analysis experiments, as well as chemicals, glassware. Remember, two weeks to order...

After a recent meeting, a furnace oven became available in another lab, but this time all the safety documents to be completed by the responsible persons. So, the oven was activated, but the technician responsible is, perhaps one could euphemistically say "too busy elsewhere" to help.

Back to the literature review then. Merry Christmas!

At long last

A couple of milestones reached this month. After a year I finally have my own pc in our office! And today, was able to use my lab coat requested all those (12, 13?) months ago!

During the last few months I've been busy preparing my waste (i.e. bulk item size reduction) for subsequent combustion. The latest shock is the bureaucracy involved in starting my chemical analysis (trace metals, trace organics); risk assessments, coshh assessments, induction training, etc.

Oh and by the way, the annual (12 month) review was a success! :)

Dirty hands

Last week, finally, I was able to gain some practical experience in the pilot laboratory. The biomass fuel was easily combustible and convenient to handle as pellets. However I am in the ridiculous situation of relying on the technician transferring data to his portable pc via usb output since the data logging pc does not have a usb port. It isn't exactly difficult to connect a pc to the campus network. Except that our infamous it department do not keep stock of cables longer than 5 metres! However they do have money to install a large lcd/plasma tv in the reception...

Now I have some data (albeit only 1 hour in a 1 day! :) ) to include in the forthcoming progress review meeting.

Assuming I am deemed to have made satisfactory progress I should be free to pursue my next target: municipal waste combustion sample preparation.

e-mail hell

I never thought, with technology of today, that an organisation be capable of: losing messages; employing untrained "support staff", such that a basic request to use an e-mail client cannot be resolved. In the end, have given up using the university mail network altogether.

Since the last post I was hoping to have finally conducted some experimental work. Unfortunately, no. Further equipment failure, higher priority of other personnel and a mini holiday season have all contributed to additional delay.

In the meantime, I've managed to complete the postgraduate skills record and a draft document for a an imminent annual review, all using tex for further practical experience. I have also had some fun trying to remember my school level calculus. I'd been thinking: "where are all my school books now?!"; "how is it possible for my brain to be able to remember those differentiation/integration procedures after reading a maths book again, after so many years?"; "why didn't my maths teachers make this topic more relevant to my interests". Or maybe they did but I was busy not listening...

Another hurdle to overcome

I've had a bit of frustration with latex and its apparent inability to cope with unicode. Apparently my tex distribution is old and I should try a new one; well I tried, failed and returned! Using xetex is a bit beyond my capability for now and I don't have to use unicode so I shall forget that option for now.

Towards the end of last month I received a newsletter in my e-mail inbox, which provides information about (post)graduates. Within the message was reference to a series of documents published by the Royal society of chemistry: Postgraduate skills record. The first hyperlink in the newsletter was erroneous so I won't make the same mistake and publish the current internet address here; if interested go to rsc web site and search

Proved to be interesting reading and I wished I had encountered earlier as it should augment nicely the administration documents issued by the university.

I'm awaiting discussion and hopefully budgetary approval to receive some laboratory equipment to allow me to proceed with my project. So far, I've done nothing! In the meantime I reviewing the skills record document, to complete the first phase (a few months late but better than never).

Oh, and I'm using tex to create a document to record my progress. :)