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

0756939 ostrom该项目将开发一种可现场部署的原型同位素比质谱仪（FIMS），该质谱仪将能够快速、现场测定CO2和N2O的同位素组成。FIMS仪器由微量气体样品导入系统（TGSIS）和摆线聚焦质谱仪（CFMS）组成，CFMS可以在一个由24伏电池供电的便携式仪器包内进行精确的同位素测量。该项目将为西南研究所空间科学与工程部的CFMS制造一个微型法拉第阵列探测器，并将通过他们参与TGSIS的开发来培养新一代生物地球化学家。该项目旨在确定二氧化碳和氧化亚氮的同位素组成。然而，法拉第收集器阵列可以测量其他对环境重要的化合物，如CH4和H2O。从本质上说，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系统的能力。稳定同位素分析已成为广泛的自然环境生物地球化学研究的一个组成部分，包括动物迁移、食物资源、生态系统代谢、微生物动力学和生物圈-大气耦合。虽然对稳定同位素数据的需求在生物地球化学中几乎无处不在，但我们还没有实现一种仪器，可以在偏远环境中就地部署，对各种材料的同位素丰度进行近实时测量。微量气体的生物圈-大气交换就是这样一个领域的例子，它将受益于对微量气体进行快速和连续的同位素测定。这些措施将能够将净生态系统交换划分为光合通量和呼吸通量，确定呼吸CO2的来源，并量化硝化和反硝化作用产生的土壤N2O的比例。在开发FIMS系统时，PI？我们正在预测NEON和其他大规模监测网络的基础设施需求，通过在尚未实现的规模上提供各种化合物的同位素分析。该项目将由来自机电工程系的7名大四本科生组成的团队设计和建造TGSIS的电子控制系统。因此，在提高本科学生的教育体验的同时，满足了项目的仪器设计需求。

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.