MRI: Acquisition of Instrumentation for Aqueous Biogeochemistry Investigations

史密斯学院化学系将从主要研究仪器(MRI)计划获得一台电感耦合等离子体光学发射光谱仪(ICP-OES)、一台石墨炉原子吸收光谱仪(GFAAS)和一台离子色谱仪质谱仪(IC/MS)。这些仪器将成为一个新的生物地球化学研究中心(CABR)的基石，该中心是一个跨部门研究中心，由一个中心主题--探索环境的生物和化学--联合在一起。它们将被用来研究各种问题，包括1)铬(VI)诱导致癌的生化基础；2)卤代乙酸(HAAs)的生物降解；3)富硼碳(C6B)纳米管和纤维的化学和结构；4)玻璃配料和细化产生的NOx和SOx排放；5)人类活动对水生态系统的影响；6)不同土地利用活动对生态重要分水岭内溪流化学的相对影响。该仪器使快速测定水样中的元素和离子成为可能，浓度低至百万分之几(Ppb)。准确测量溶解成分的能力是理解水体系中起作用的生物和地球化学过程的关键之一。拟议的设备将对培训学生进行水中生物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进入专业学校和科学、工程和医疗相关领域的职业生涯做好准备。

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.