Valued at $20K New, the Piece Is Used in Identifying Molecular Structures
Dr. Philip T. McKittrick spent only one year teaching at Wilmington College as a visiting professor in the Chemistry Dept. in 1991, but he never forgot what represented a very meaningful experience early in his career.
Back then, he taught in Kettering Science Hall where today sits WC's largest and newest academic building, the Center for the Sciences and Agriculture. McKittrick returned to campus on March 31 for the first time in more than 30 years to show his wife the campus and give the College equipment for its Chemistry Lab.
PICTURED: Dr. Philip T. McKittrick explains the equipment and speaks about his career in chemistry to a group of students in the Chemistry Lab.
McKittrick is a senior staff scientist for Global Analytical and Microbiological Services with Ecolab Corp. in Naperville. IL. None of his former WC contemporaries in the department remain on the faculty after all this time so he contacted his successor, Dr. Dore Meinholtz, professor of chemistry, in preparation for his visit.
He brought an ATR (attenuated total reflectance) sample accessory to fit the existing infrared (IR) spectrometer in WC's chemistry lab. The IR spectrometer is a commonly used instrument for identifying molecular structures or parts of molecular structures, according to Dr. Michael Goldcamp, professor of chemistry.
"The ATR accessory that Phil brought came with six sample crystal plates," he said, noting the donated equipment would cost more than $20,000 new. "This donated equipment gives chemistry students experience with different methods of measuring chemical samples with our IR spectrometer, and it gives the chemistry program additional equipment to bolster and back-up existing technologies."
McKittrick also took the time to teach a group of chemistry majors and minors about ATR accessories, including theory on how they work and practical knowledge about the advantages of each of the different sample crystal plates that can be used for chemical sampling.