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

该奖项由2009年《美国复苏和再投资法案》(公法111-5)资助。利用重大研究仪器项目的这一奖项，南缅因州大学的露西尔·A·本尼迪克特和萨曼莎·J·兰利·特恩博将获得便携式X射线荧光(XRF)分析器、台式X射线荧光分析器和直接汞分析器。它们将用于几个研究项目，包括：1)卷烟废物中重金属的环境污染；2)接触现代种植食品中的金属：堆肥中的浓度和植物吸收；3)缅因州波特兰城市土壤的植物修复；4)缅因州高海拔森林土壤中的痕量金属；5)土壤和淡水环境中重金属的生物有效性和生物积累。XRF是一种非破坏性的分析方法，不需要溶解和损失样品或处置危险的废物溶剂。原子内层之间的电子跃迁产生了具有元素特有波长的x射线。XRF分析利用这种特征辐射进行定性和定量的元素分析。直接汞分析背后的主要方法是燃烧，用金汞齐收集汞，然后用原子吸收光谱进行检测。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.