Acquisition of Instrumentation for an Urban Environmental Biogeochemistry Laboratory at Towson University

在主要研究仪器（MRI）项目的支持下，陶森大学化学系将获得一台x射线荧光光谱仪和一台带有固体样品燃烧装置的碳氮分析仪。将使用该设备进行的具体项目将解决以下问题：土壤来源的微量元素对切萨皮克湾总微量元素预算的相对重要性是什么？食物来源的元素化学计量学如何影响河流无脊椎动物沿城市到农村梯度的生长？人工湿地能否有效地用于从间歇径流事件中去除肥料衍生的氮？在雨水截留池中，生物膜在向野生动物转移微量元素方面起什么作用？之所以选择这些工具，是因为它们的软件界面对本科水平的学生来说是平易近人的。碳和氮分析是快速的，这意味着学生可以完成更多的分析，并承担更多的样本密集的项目在他们的时间表的限制。这些仪器也将在许多课程中使用，并将在新开发的法医化学计划中发挥作用。这些资金将用于化学、环境科学、生物学和地质学专业的本科生的研究，并将用于支持环境科学和生物学专业的硕士水平的研究。

With support from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program, the Department of Chemistry at Towson University will acquire an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer and a carbon-nitrogen analyzer with a solid sample combustion unit. The specific projects that will be carried out using this equipment will address the following questions: What is the relative importance of soil-derived trace elements to the total trace element budget of the Chesapeake Bay? How does the elemental stoichiometry of food sources impact the growth of stream invertebrates along an urban to rural gradient? Can constructed wetlands be effectively used for the removal of fertilizer-derived nitrogen from intermittent runoff events. What role do biofilms play in the transfer of trace elements to wildlife in storm water retention ponds? These instruments were chosen because their software interfaces are approachable for students at the undergraduate level. The carbon and nitrogen analyses are fast, which means that students can accomplish more analyses and take on more sample-intensive projects within the constraints of their schedules. These instruments will also be utilized in numerous courses and will play a role in the newly developed Forensic Chemistry program. They will be used for undergraduate research by students in Chemistry, Environmental Science, Biology and Geology, and will serve to support masters-level research in Environmental Science and Biology.