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

请拨资金购买一台拉曼光谱仪，用于本科生仪器分析实验室(CHEM 5650)正在实施的新材料表征模块。该仪器还将用于本科生的研究计划，化学问题(CHEM 4800)。申请的资金将用于购买一台带有光纤探头的WIZER 1200拉曼光谱仪，该探头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，不仅可以进行拉曼光谱测量，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部分方面(问题识别、采样、样品制备、测量、数据分析和解释)。该仪器将显著提高我系在振动光谱学和材料表征领域的教学和实训质量。我们已经启动了一项计划，以修订和现代化本科生仪器分析实验室(CHEM 5650)。一项重大变化涉及实施以问题为基础的学习(PBL)方法。分析化学对国家的大部分科学和工程都是必不可少的。因此，为了确保国家的技术需求得到满足，本科分析课程(例如，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，这种准备将为学生提供更广泛的职业机会。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年由美国国家科学基金会赞助的一项名为《分析科学课程改革》的研究)。课程修订集中在两个领域：分离科学和材料特性。由于对以科学为基础的课程的需求增加，这所专科学校设立了自然科学课程，并正在为非理科专业的学生开发科学课程。一门名为环境质量的新跨学科课程正在开发中，以满足文科和教育转学专业新的科学核心要求。该项目寻求配套资金，用于购买以学生为基础的环境质量评估设备，对Lackawanna河、其支流和其他被酸性矿山废水和混合下水道溢流污染的水源进行评估。评估战略将以审查对水质和生物群的实际和潜在影响为基础，特别是对金属、营养物质、溶解氧和底栖大型无脊椎动物的影响。除了一种新的实验室分光光度计外，还将使用便携式现场分析仪器来估计污染物负荷，并评估可疑影响地区和非影响控制(参照)地点的化学成分水平。学生将熟悉样本收集和分析所涉及的科学方法，以及环境的生物、化学和水文成分之间的相互关系。该项目的结果将从科学有效性、对环境数据库的贡献及其对学生学习的影响等方面进行评估。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.