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奖将为北卡罗莱纳大学教堂山（UNC-CH）的过时同位素地球化学实验室的翻新提供资金。 32年历史的实验室坐落在米切尔大厅（Mitchell Hall）中，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法的样品加载准备。 UNC-CH，杜克大学和北卡罗来纳州立大学的三个地球科学系的教师和学生使用该设施为使用VG部门54热电离质谱仪准备样品进行同位素和化学分析。 但是，该仪器不能用于完全能力，因为实验室缺乏准备小型低级样品所需的现代清洁设施进行高精度分析。 已经花费了大量时间来发现和消除污染的来源，因此阻碍了进步。金属灯具，天花板网格，烟雾罩套管和管道的腐蚀会造成严重的污染颗粒，尤其是因为实验室中的空气未过滤。 空气流量很低，酸性烟雾不足以从工作区域排出，从而为研究人员创造了潜在的危险健康环境。 当前的空间设计限制了其他学生的培训机会，并限制了可以执行的研究和分析实验的范围。 实验室翻新将包括：安装新的通风罩，包括四个100级层流罩；安装台式工作站，并提供HEPA过滤器蒸发盒。将更换腐蚀的电源插座，气体和水管以及天花板网格。 翻新将使研究人员能够：分析以非常低浓度的样本分析多种样本；减少与同位素测量相关的错误，并容纳其他用户。 这将允许在需要准确的PB丰度和同位素比的领域进行研究；进行来源分配研究，以评估痕量污染物对天然和人为来源的相对贡献，对人类对大气污染物进行暴露评估，并扩大同位素示踪剂研究对植物和动物研究。 越来越多的学生，包括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科学程序。