Renovation of an Isotope Geochemistry Laboratory for North Carolina Triangle Universities Consortium

北卡罗莱纳三角大学联盟同位素地球化学实验室改造

• 批准号: 9602629
• 负责人: Paul Fullagar
• 金额: $ 17万
• 依托单位: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1996
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1996-11-15 至 1998-10-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9602629&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Renovation; Isotope; Geochemistry; Laboratory; North

This ARI award will provide funding for the renovation of an obsolete Isotope Geochemistry Laboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) on behalf of The North Carolina Triangle Universities Consortium. Housed in Mitchell Hall, the 32 year old lab is used to support analytical procedures including acid digestion of samples, elemental chromatographic separations, mineral leaching and purification, and sample loading preparation for mass spectrometry. Faculty and students of three Geoscience Departments, UNC-CH, Duke University, and North Carolina State University, use the facility to prepare samples for isotopic and chemical analysis using the VG Sector 54 thermal ionization mass spectrometer. However, the instrument cannot be used to full capability because the laboratory lacks modern, clean facilities required to prepare small, low-level samples for high-precision analyses. An inordinate amount of time has been spent discovering and eliminating sources of contamination, therefore impeding progress. Corrosion of metallic light fixtures, ceiling grids, fume hood casings, and pipes contribute significant contaminating particles, especially since air in the lab is not filtered. Air flow is low, and acid fumes are not adequately vented from work areas, thus creating a potential hazardous health environment for research personnel. Current space design limits the training opportunities for additional students and limits the range of research and analytical experiments that can be performed. Laboratory renovations will consist of: installing new fume hoods, including four Class 100 laminar flow hoods; installing benchtop workstations, and providing HEPA filter evaporating boxes. Corroded electrical outlets, gas and water pipes will be replaced as well as ceiling grids. Renovations will enable research personnel to: analyze a wider variety of samples, and smaller quantities of a sample at very low concentrations; decrease errors associated with isotopic measurements, and accommodate additional users. This will allow research growth in areas that require accurate Pb abundances and isotopic ratios; perform source apportionment studies to assess relative contribution of trace pollutants for natural and anthropogenic sources, perform exposure assessment of humans to atmospheric pollutants, and expand isotopic tracer studies to plant and animal research. More students, including students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities in North Carolina, will learn a broader range of scientific procedures of geologic and environmental importance.

该ARI奖项将代表北卡罗来纳三角大学联盟，为北卡罗来纳大学教堂山分校（UNC-CH）过时的同位素地球化学实验室的翻新提供资金。坐落在米切尔大厅，32岁的实验室用于支持分析程序，包括样品的酸消化，元素色谱分离，矿物浸出和纯化，以及质谱样品装载制备。北卡罗来纳大学地球科学系、杜克大学和北卡罗莱纳州立大学的教师和学生使用该设施准备样品，使用VG Sector 54热电离质谱仪进行同位素和化学分析。然而，该仪器不能充分发挥其功能，因为实验室缺乏为高精度分析准备小样本、低水平样品所需的现代化、清洁设施。在发现和消除污染源上花费了过多的时间，因此阻碍了进展。金属灯具、天花板网格、通风柜外壳和管道的腐蚀会产生显著的污染颗粒，特别是因为实验室中的空气没有过滤。空气流量低，酸性烟雾没有从工作区域充分排出，从而对研究人员的健康造成潜在的危险环境。目前的空间设计限制了更多学生的培训机会，也限制了可以进行的研究和分析实验的范围。实验室装修将包括：安装新的通风柜，包括四个100级层流通风柜；安装台式工作站，并提供HEPA过滤器蒸发箱。被腐蚀的电源插座、煤气和水管以及天花板电网将被更换。翻新将使研究人员能够：分析更多种类的样品，在非常低的浓度下分析更少量的样品；减少与同位素测量相关的误差，并适应额外的用户。这将有助于在需要精确的铅丰度和同位素比的领域开展研究；开展源分配研究，以评估自然和人为来源的痕量污染物的相对贡献，开展人类对大气污染物的暴露评估，并将同位素示踪剂研究扩展到植物和动物研究。更多的学生，包括来自北卡罗来纳州历史悠久的黑人学院和大学的学生，将学习更广泛的地质和环境重要性的科学程序。