SGER: Collaborative Research: Development of a Prototype Field-deployable Isotope-ratio Mass Spectrometer for Biogeochemistry

0756939 Ostrom该项目将开发一种原型现场部署同位素比质谱仪（FIMS），该质谱仪将能够快速原位测定CO2和N2O的同位素组成。FIMS仪器由一个痕量气体样品引入系统（TGSIS）连接到一个摆线聚焦质谱仪（CFMS），使精确的同位素测量在便携式仪器包由24伏电池供电。 该项目将为西南研究院空间科学与工程处的CFMS制造一个微法拉第阵列探测器，并将通过参与TGSIS的开发来培养新一代的地球化学家。该项目的目标是确定CO2和N2O的同位素组成。 然而，法拉第收集器阵列能够测量其他对环境重要的化合物，例如CH 4和H2O。从本质上讲，FIMS将通过提供广泛的同位素分析以及扫描挥发性有机化合物丰度的能力来补充和超越基于激光的系统的能力。稳定同位素分析已成为自然环境生物地球化学研究的一个组成部分，包括动物迁徙、食物资源、生态系统新陈代谢、微生物动力学和生物圈-大气耦合。虽然稳定同位素数据的需求在地球化学中几乎无处不在，但我们还没有实现一种可以在远程环境中原位部署的仪器，以实现广泛材料的同位素丰度的近真实的时间测量。生物圈-大气层微量气体交换就是此类领域的一个例子，它将受益于快速和连续的微量气体同位素测定。这些措施将使净生态系统交换的光合和呼吸通量的分区，确定的起源呼吸CO2，和定量的比例，土壤衍生的N2O从硝化和反硝化作用。通过提供尚未实现规模的广泛化合物的同位素分析，预计氖和其他大规模监测网络的基础设施需求。该项目将涉及一个由7名来自机电工程系的高年级本科生组成的团队，设计和建造TGSIS的电子控制系统。 因此，该项目的工具设计需求将得到满足，同时提高本科生的教育经验。

0756939OstromThis project will develop a prototype Field-deployable Isotope-ratio Mass Spectrometer (FIMS) that will enable rapid, in situ determinations of the isotopic composition of CO2 and N2O. The FIMS instrument consists of a Trace Gas Sample Introduction System (TGSIS) interfaced to a Cycloidal-Focusing Mass Spectrometer (CFMS) that enables precise isotope measures within a portable instrument package powered by 24 volt batteries. The project will fabricate a micro-faraday array detector for the CFMS at the Space Science and Engineering Division at Southwest Research Institute and will train a new generation of biogeochemist through their participation in the development of the TGSIS. The project is targeting determinations of the isotopic composition of CO2 and N2O. However, the Faraday collector array enables measurement of other environmentally-important compounds, such as CH4 and H2O. Inherently, FIMS will compliment and exceed the abilities of laser-based systems by offering a wide range of isotope analyses as well as the capability of scanning for the abundances of volatile organic compounds. Stable isotope analyses have become an integral component of a wide range of biogeochemical studies of the natural environment including animal migration, food resources, ecosystem metabolism, microbial dynamics and biosphere-atmospheric coupling. While the need for stable isotope data has become nearly ubiquitous in biogeochemistry, we have yet to realize an instrument that can be deployed in situ in remote environments to effect near real time measures of isotopic abundances of a wide range of materials. The biospheric-atmospheric exchange of trace gases is an example of one such area that would benefit from rapid and continuous isotope determinations of trace gases. Such measures would enable partitioning of net ecosystem exchange into photosynthetic and respiratory fluxes, determination of the origins of respired CO2, and quantification of the proportion of soil derived N2O from nitrification and denitrification.In developing the FIMS system, the PI?s are anticipating the infrastructure needs of NEON and other large-scale monitoring networks by providing isotope analyses for a wide range of compounds at a scale not yet realized. The project will involve a team of 7 senior undergraduate students from the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Departments to design and construct the electronics control system for the TGSIS. Thus, the instrumental design needs of the project will be met while enhancing the educational experiences of undergraduate students.