MRI: Acquisition of Instrumentation for Aqueous Biogeochemistry Investigations

史密斯学院的化学系将获得电感耦合等离子体发射光谱仪（ICP-OES），石墨炉原子吸收光谱仪（GFAAS）和离子色谱质谱仪（IC/MS），该奖项来自主要研究仪器（MRI）计划。 这些仪器将成为新的水生生物地球化学研究中心（CABR）的基石，这是一个跨部门的研究中心，以探索环境的生物学和化学为中心主题。 它们将被用来研究一系列问题，包括1）Cr（VI）诱发致癌的生物化学基础; 2）卤乙酸（哈斯）的生物降解; 3）富硼碳（C6 B）纳米管和纤维的化学和结构; 4）玻璃抛光和澄清过程中产生的NOx和SOx排放; 5）人类活动对水生态系统的影响; 6）不同土地使用活动对生态重要流域内溪流化学的相对影响。这种仪器可以快速测定水样中的元素和离子，浓度低至十亿分之一（ppb）。精确测量溶解组分的能力是理解水系统中生物和地球化学过程的关键之一。 拟议的设备将对培养学生的水环境地球化学研究技术产生重大影响。在研究和实验室课程中使用这种最先进的设备的实践经验将为学生在科学，工程和医学相关领域的专业学校和职业生涯做好准备。

The Chemistry Department at Smith College will acquire an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES), a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer (GFAAS), and an ion chromatograph mass spectrometer (IC/MS) with this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program. These instruments will be the cornerstone for a new Center for AqueousBiogeochemical Research (CABR), an interdepartmental research center united by a central theme, exploration of the biology and chemistry of the environment. They will be used to investigate a variety of problems including 1) the biochemical basis for Cr(VI) induced carcinogenesis; 2) the biodegradation of haloacetic acids (HAAs); 3) the chemistry and structure of boron rich carbon (C6B) nanotubes and fibers; 4) NOx and SOx emissions produced upon glass batching and fining; 5) the impact ofanthropogenic activities on aqueous ecosystems; 6) the relative impacts of different land-use activities on the chemistry of streams within ecologically important watersheds.This instrumentation makes it possible to rapidly determine elements and ions in aqueous samples in concentrations down to the part per billion (ppb) level. The ability to precisely measure dissolved constituents is one of the keys to understanding the biological and geochemical processes at work in aqueous systems. The proposed equipment will have a substantial impact on training students in aqueous biogeochemistry research techniques. Hands-on experience using this state-of-the-art equipment in research and laboratory classes will prepare students for professional schools and careers in science, engineering and medical related fields.