MRI: Acquisition of X-ray Fluorescence and Mercury Analysis Instrumentation for Environmental Research

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。南缅因大学的Lucille a . Benedict和Samantha J. Langley-Turnbaugh将获得一个便携式x射线荧光分析仪（XRF），一个台式x射线荧光分析仪和一个直接汞分析仪。它们将用于几个研究项目，包括：1)香烟废物中重金属的环境污染；2)从现代种植的食物中暴露于金属：浓度和植物在堆肥中的吸收；3)缅因州波特兰市城市土壤植物修复研究；4)缅因州高海拔森林土壤中微量金属含量；5)土壤和淡水环境中重金属的生物可利用性和生物积累。XRF是一种无损分析方法，不需要样品的溶解和损失，也不需要处理有害的废溶剂。电子在原子内壳层之间的跃迁产生具有该元素特有波长的x射线。XRF分析使用该特征辐射进行定性和定量元素分析。直接汞分析的主要方法是利用燃烧，用金汞齐法收集汞，并用原子吸收光谱法检测。拟议的项目将大大加强研究和教学的基础设施，促进本科生参与研究活动，并促进大学与外部科学家之间的伙伴关系。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation Program, Lucille A. Benedict and Samantha J. Langley-Turnbaugh of the University of Southern Maine will acquire a portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer, a bench top x-ray fluorescence analyzer and a direct mercury analyzer. They will be used in several research projects including, 1) environmental contamination of heavy metals from cigarette waste; 2) exposure to metals from modern grown foods: concentrations and plant uptake in compost; 3) phytoremediation of urban soils in Portland, Maine; and 4) trace metals in high elevation forest soils in Maine; 5) bioavailability and bioaccumulation of heavy metals from soils and freshwater environments.XRF is a nondestructive analytical method that does not require the dissolution and loss of samples or the disposal of hazardous waste solvents. Electron transitions between the inner shells of atoms create x-rays with wavelengths characteristic of the element. XRF analysis uses this characteristic radiation for qualitative and quantitative elemental analysis. The principal methodology behind direct mercury analysis utilizes combustion, collection of Hg with gold amalgamation, and detection by atomic absorption spectrometry. The proposed projects will considerably enhance the infrastructure for research and teaching, promote undergraduate participation in research activities, and foster partnerships between the University and outside scientists.