MRI: Acquisition: Establishment of the Midwest Isotope and Trace Element Research Analytical Center (MITERAC)

MITERAC将扩大来自印第安纳州和密歇根州6所大学的18名研究人员的研究努力。这将通过由核磁共振计划资助购买以下新仪器来实现，该仪器将与现有的高分辨率Element 2电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(具有213 nm激光消融装置和液相色谱系统)相结合：多收集器电感耦合等离子质谱仪(MC-ICPMS)、193 nm激光消融和微钻孔系统以及专用汞分析仪。MC-ICPMS仪器应使研究人员能够从各种类型的环境和地质样品中获得高精度和准确的同位素数据。193纳米激光系统和微型钻头应用于从地质和考古样品中获取高质量、高空间分辨率的同位素数据；即10s至100s微米级的数据。汞分析仪将用于量化环境样品中的汞水平，作为正在进行的污染修复研究调查的一部分。MITERAC应是一个专门从事同位素地球化学和微量元素研究的设施；一个对本科生、研究生和教职员工完全开放的设施。MITERAC的建立将为来自6所大学的研究生和本科生提供处理和解释同位素数据的经验，以及圣母大学在最新的电感耦合等离子体质谱技术和高度创新的仪器方面的关键实践培训和专业知识；这些培训对他们的科学发展至关重要。该设施将处理涵盖广泛研究学科的研究，包括岩石学、行星地质学、人类学、环境学、工程学(污染物修复)、核取证、地球微生物学和水文学；后者的研究领域对社会问题有直接影响。我们拟建的设施将吸引来自世界各地的科学家/工程师和随行的学生进行他们的高度创新研究，最终提高所有相关人员的教育体验。

MITERAC shall expand the research endeavors of 18 researchers from 6 universities in Indiana and Michigan. This will be accomplished via the acquisition of the following new instruments with funding from the MRI Program, which will be combined with the existing high resolution Element 2 ICP-MS (with 213 nm laser ablation unit and liquid chromatographic system): multiple collector-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS), 193 nm laser ablation and microdrilling systems, and dedicated Hg analyzers. The MC-ICP-MS instrumentation shall provide researchers the capacity to obtain highly precise and accurate isotope data from various types of environmental and geological samples. The 193 nm laser system and microdrill shall be used to acquire high quality, isotope data at high spatial resolution; i.e. 10s to 100s of micron scale from geological and archaeological samples. The Hg analyzers shall be used to quantify mercury levels in environmental samples as part of on-going research investigations in pollution remediation.MITERAC shall be a facility specializing in isotope geochemistry and trace element research; one that is fully accessible to undergraduates and graduate students, and faculty. The establishment of MITERAC will provide both graduate and undergraduate students from 6 universities with experience in handling and interpretation of isotope data, and critical hands-on training and expertise at Notre Dame in latest ICP-MS technology and highly innovative instrumentation; training that is critical to their scientific development. The facility will address research covering a broad range of research disciplines, including petrology, planetary geology, anthropology, the environment, engineering (pollutant remediation), nuclear forensics, geomicrobiology, and hydrology; the latter research areas having a direct impact on societal issues. Our proposed facility shall attract scientists/engineers and accompanying students from around the world to conduct their highly innovative research, which ultimately enhances the educational experiences of all involved.