Upgrade of the Undergraduate Instrumental Analysis Laboratory: Purchase of a Raman Spectrometer

申请资金用于购置拉曼光谱仪，用于正在本科仪器分析实验室（CHEM 5650）实施的新材料表征模块。该仪器也将用于本科研究项目化学问题（CHEM 4800）。所申请的资金将用于购买带有光纤探头的Wizard 1200拉曼光谱仪（chrqmx, Albuquerque， NM），该光谱仪将广泛用于新材料表征模块。该仪器用途广泛，可以对气体、液体和固体进行光谱研究，不仅可以配置为拉曼光谱，还可以进行荧光、吸收和发射测量。拟议的拉曼实验将涉及分析过程的大多数方面（问题识别，采样，样品制备，测量，数据分析和解释）。该仪器将显著提高本系在振动光谱学和材料表征领域的教学和实践培训质量。一项计划已经启动修订和现代化的本科仪器分析实验室（CHEM 5650）。一个主要的变化涉及到基于问题的学习（PBL）方法的实现。“分析化学对美国的许多科学和工程都至关重要。因此，为了确保满足国家的技术需求，本科分析课程（如仪器分析和化学问题）需要更好地培养学生成为问题解决者。反过来，这种准备将给学生提供更广泛的就业机会。如果学习是令人兴奋和相关的，分析科学课程可能会吸引更多的年轻人进入科学领域”（1998年美国国家科学基金会资助的题为“分析科学课程改革”的研究）。课程修订集中在两个方面：分离科学和材料表征。由于对科学课程的需求增加，该专科学院设立了自然科学课程，并为非科学专业的学生开发科学课程。一门新的跨学科课程“环境质量”正在开发中，以满足文科专业和教育转学专业的新科学核心要求。该项目寻求配套资金，用于购置设备，以学生为基础，对拉克万纳河、其支流和其他水源进行环境质量评估，这些水源受到酸性矿井排水和综合下水道溢流的污染。评估战略将以审查对水质和生物群，特别是金属、营养物、溶解氧和底栖大型无脊椎动物的实际和潜在影响为基础。除了一个新的实验室光谱光度计外，还将使用便携式现场分析仪器来估计污染物的负荷，并评价疑似受影响地区和未受影响的控制（参考）地点的化学成分水平。学生将熟悉样本收集和分析的科学方法，以及环境中生物、化学和水文成分之间的相互关系。项目结果将根据科学有效性、对环境数据库的贡献及其对学生学习的影响进行评估。研究成果的传播将通过研究出版物和会议报告进行。

Funds are requested for the acquisition of a Raman Spectrometer to be used in a new materials characterization module being implemented into the undergraduate Instrumental Analysis Laboratory (CHEM 5650). The instrument will also be utilized in the undergraduate research program, Chemical Problems (CHEM 4800). The requested funds will be used to acquire a Wizard 1200 Raman Spectrometer (ChrQmgx, Albuquerque, NM) with a fiber optic probe to be extensively used in a new materials characterization module. This instrument is extremely versatile, allowing for spectroscopic studies of gases, liquids and solids, and can be configured to perform not only Raman but also fluorescence, absorption and emission measurements. The proposed Raman experiments will involve most aspects of the analytical process (problem identification, sampling, sample preparation, measurement, data analysis, and interpretation). The instrumentation will significantly improve the quality of instruction and practical training offered by our Department in the fields of vibrational spectroscopy and materials characterization.A program has been initiated to revise and modernize the undergraduate Instrumental Analysis Laboratory (CHEM 5650). A major change involves the implementation of a Problem-based Learning (PBL) approach. "Analytical chemistry is essential to much of the nation's science and engineering. So to ensure that the nation's technical needs will be met, the undergraduate analytical curriculum (e.g., Instrumental Analysis and Chemical Problems) needs to better prepare students to become problem solvers. In turn, this preparation will give students a broader range of career opportunities. If the learning is exciting and relevant, analytical science courses may attract more young people into the sciences" (1998 NSF-sponsored study titled Curriculum Reform in the Analytical Sciences). Curriculum revisions are focused in two areas: separation science and materials characterization.Due to increased demand for science-based curricula, this Junior College has instituted a Natural Science program and is developing science courses for serving nonscience majors. A new interdisciplinary course entitled Environmental Quality is being developed to satisfy new science core requirements for majors in the Liberal Arts and Education Transfer programs. This project seeks matching funds for the acquisition of equipment for student-based environmental quality assessments of the Lackawanna River, its tributaries, and other water sources which are contaminated with acid mine drainage and combined sewer overflows. Assessment strategies will be based on examining actual and potential impacts on water quality and biota, specifically metals, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, and benthic macroinvertebrates. Portable field analytical instrumentation, in addition to a new laboratory spectro -photometer, will be used to estimate pollutant loads and to evaluate levels of chemical constituents in areas of suspected impact and non-impacted control (reference) sites. Students will become familiar with the scientific methodologies involved in sample collection and analysis, as well as the interrelationships between the biological, chemical, and hydrological components of the environment. Results of the project will be evaluated in terms of scientific validity, contributions to environmental databases, and its impact on student learning. Dissemination of results will occur through research publications and conference presentations.