MRI: Acquisition of a Flow Injection Analysis ? Ion Chromatograph System for Research and Training in Biology, Geology, and Agriculture at Illinois State University

MRI资金将用于购买Lachat Instruments QuikChem®8500系列流动注射分析系统，该系统具有耦合离子色谱仪系统（FIA-IC），可为地表水和地下水、土壤提取物、消化固体样品和研究人员可能需要的其他样品提供高通量的营养和离子自动分析。该系统的模块化结构允许使用该集成系统的FIA和IC组件使用EPA批准的方法进行平行分析或独立分析样品。快速的处理时间将确保所有用户都可以使用该仪器进行研究，并且购买这种单一的共享设备比每个实验室开发和进行自己的手动分光光度分析更有效。该仪器的获得将允许从现有研究中快速处理样品，但将促进伊利诺伊州立大学生物、地质和农业科学研究项目的扩展。伊利诺伊州立大学的主要目标是提供一个易于访问的小型学校的学习经验与一个大的大学的机会，我们的教育，研究和推广活动将大大加强与FIA-IC的收购。FIA-IC将提高当前课程的分析水平，包括人体生理学、河流生态学、湖沼学、土壤肥力和肥料，以及环境地质野外方法。FIA-IC将被纳入现有的K-12扩展计划，该计划涉及来自芝加哥市区和当地农村地区的学生团体，通过与年龄相适应的学习模块或夏季独立研究，进一步让高中生接触科学研究。来自北伊利诺伊大学、伊利诺伊大学斯普林菲尔德分校和伊利诺伊大学香槟分校的研究人员也将使用该仪器。购买FIA-IC将成为发展一个跨学科环境分析中心所需的核心设备，连接生物、地质、农业和化学科学等学科。该仪器将作为伊利诺斯州立大学的成本中心进行操作和行政管理，并将促进特别是在农业和城市环境中关于水质的研究。

MRI funds will be used to acquire a Lachat Instruments QuikChem® 8500 Series II flow injection analysis system with coupled ion chromatograph system (FIA-IC) to provide a high throughput automated analysis of nutrient and ions for samples from surface and ground waters, soil extracts, digested solid sample, and other samples that might be required by researchers. The modular construction of the system allows parallel analysis or independent analysis of samples using the FIA and IC components of this integrated system using EPA approved methods. The fast processing time will ensure that all users will have access to the instrument for their research, and the purchase of this single, shared equipment is more efficient than having each lab develop and conduct their own manual spectrophotometric analyses. The acquisition of this instrument will allow rapid throughput of samples from existing studies but will facilitate the expansion of research projects in the Biological, Geological, and Agricultural Sciences at Illinois State University. A primary goal of Illinois State University is to provide an accessible small-school learning experience with the opportunities of a big university, and our education, research, and outreach activities will be substantially enhanced with the acquisition of the FIA-IC. The FIA-IC will raise the level of current analyses in classes including Human Physiology, Stream Ecology, Limnology, Soil Fertility and Fertilizers, and Environmental Geology Field Methods. The FIA-IC will be incorporated into existing K-12 outreach programs that involve student groups from Chicago urban districts and local rural districts to further expose high school students to scientific research through either age-appropriate learning modules or independent research during the summer. Researchers from Northern Illinois University, University of Illinois - Springfield and University of Illinois Champaign Urbana, will also use the instrument. Acquisition of the FIA-IC will constitute a central piece of equipment needed in the development of an interdisciplinary-based environmental analytical center bridging the disciplines of Biological, Geological, Agricultural and Chemical Sciences. The instrument will be operated and administratively managed as a cost-center at Illinois State University and will promote research particularly on water quality within an agricultural and urban setting.