MRI: Acquisition of an Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer for Interdisciplinary Research and Undergraduate Research Training

获得重大研究仪器(MRI)计划和化学研究仪器(CRIF)计划的这一奖项后，威斯敏斯特学院将获得一台电感耦合等离子体光学发射光谱仪(ICP-OES)。该仪器用于分析样品，特别是确定金属的存在及其浓度。它的工作原理是产生一种高能的热等离子体，使样品汽化并产生离子。感兴趣的离子发出光谱指纹(发射光谱)，从而能够识别和浓缩它们。这是一种广泛用于环境样品(水、土壤、废物等)分析的仪器。该仪器将由本科生在研究和实验室培训课程中使用。它还将用于阿勒格尼学院和泰尔学院的学生的研究。威尔明顿地区高中的高中生将使用该仪器继续并扩大正在进行的监测当地水源中重金属污染的努力。威斯敏斯特学院将进一步实现其目标，即提供化学、生物、物理、环境科学和材料科学研究和培训所需的最新仪器，并扩大地区STEM研究和培训能力。建议旨在加强研究，特别是在以下领域：(A)开发合成与商业相关的稀土硅酸盐的方法；(B)从废料和报废技术产品中回收稀土氧化物；(C)从被动式水处理系统中回收锰；(D)使用化学计量学预测淡水中的金属浓度；(E)分析水生脊椎动物的环境压力源；(F)量化接受长期氮素改良剂的森林土壤中的养分供应；和(G)测量堆肥中的金属污染。

With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program and the Chemistry Research Instrumentation (CRIF) Program, Westminster College will acquire an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). This instrument is used to analyze samples especially to determine the presence of metals and their concentrations. It operates by creating an energetic hot plasma that vaporizes the sample and produces ions. The ions of interest emit spectral fingerprints (emission spectra) enabling their identification and concentration. This is a widely used instrument for analysis of environmental samples (water, soil, waste, etc.). The instrument will be used by undergraduate students in research and in laboratory training courses. It will also be used in research by students at Allegheny College and Thiel College. High school students at the Wilmington Area High School will use the instrument to continue and expand ongoing efforts to monitor heavy metal contamination in local water sources. Westminster College will further its goal of providing the most current instrumentation needed for research and training in Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Environmental Science, and Material Science and expanding regional STEM research and training capabilities.The proposal is aimed at enhancing research especially in areas including (a) developing methods to synthesize commercially-relevant rare earth silicates; (b) recoverying rare earth oxides from scrap and end-of-life tech products; (c) recoverying manganese from passive water treatment systems; (d) using chemometrics to predict metal concentrations in frack water; (e) analyzing environmental stressors on aquatic vertebrates; (f) quantifying nutrient availability in forest soils receiving chronic nitrogen amendments; and (g) measuring metal contamination in compost.