Near Infrared Spectroscopy for Remote, In-Situ Chemical Analysis

该项目涉及购置一台近红外光谱仪，填补了该部门紫外可见光谱和中红外光谱之间的“光谱空白”。该仪器为探索和应用学术课程中最被忽视的光谱方法之一提供了机会。近红外光谱应用的兴趣在过去十年中急剧增加，特别是在化学工业环境中。然而，由于缺乏适当的仪器，本部门无法充分传达这种方法在工业、农业和生物应用中的当前相关性。为了更好地为化学专业的本科生以及工程和生物相关专业的本科生做准备，该项目在大二和大四阶段引入了几个实验，旨在强调近红外光谱的广泛适用性。该项目的实验将遥感与近红外光谱结合起来，研究与工业和生物有关的过程。此外，为了提高复杂近红外光谱的灵敏度和选择性，教导学生谨慎使用信号处理算法。接触近红外光谱的毕业生将更有资格，更有能力用现有的最佳技术解决相关问题。该项目仪器设备的增加不仅使本科生受益，而且还关注了最被忽视但最强大的光谱方法之一。

This project involves acquisition of a near infrared (NIR) spectrometer, filling "the spectral gap" between UV-visible and mid-infrared spectroscopy in the department. This instrument represents an opportunity to explore and apply one of the spectroscopic methods most neglected in academic course offerings. Interest in the applications of NIR spectroscopy has increased dramatically in the last decade, particularly in chemical industrial settings. However, this department is not able to adequately convey the current relevance of this methodology in industrial, agricultural, and biological applications because of the lack of proper instrumentation. To better prepare undergraduate students, not only those majoring in chemistry but also those pursuing degrees in engineering and biology-related fields, the project is introducing, at the sophomore and senior level, several experiments designed to emphasize the wide range of applicability of NIR spectroscopy. The project's experiments couple remote sensing with NIR spectroscopy to study processes relevant to industry and biology. Furthermore, to improve the sensitivity and selectivity of complex NIR spectra, students are taught the cautious use of signal processing algorithms. Graduates who are exposed to NIR spectroscopy will be better qualified and more able to tackle relevant questions with the best available technologies. The impact of this addition to the program's instrumentation not only benefits undergraduate students, but also attends to one of the most neglected, yet most powerful, spectroscopic methodologies.