MRI: Acquisition of a Gas Chromatograph with Dual Detection Capabilities to be Used in Sustainable Energy Research

通过主要研究仪器（MRI）和化学研究仪器和设施（CRIF）项目的这项奖励，肯塔基大学获得了一台具有双重检测能力的气相色谱仪：火焰电离检测器和质谱仪。该系统用于分离和分析从各种来源获得的物质混合物的组成，包括从化学反应、能源相关研究和用于储能的电池中获得的样品。使用该仪器，样品被加热，然后气体被允许通过填充了与样品组分有不同程度相互作用的物质的柱，从而使组分以不同的速度通过柱。这允许组件分离。在气体燃烧产生离子后，使用火焰电离检测器对这些物质进行分析。然后离子被极化电压吸引。电流由静电计感应。在质谱仪中，组分被电离，光谱仪通过测量离子的质量电荷比（m/z）来确定它们的质量。这是一种广泛使用的分析工具，用于确定混合物或材料的成分。培训学生在研究中使用这些仪器，为他们以后在能源相关领域的职业生涯做好准备。该仪器主要用于以下领域的研究：(a)通过催化加氢脱氧将藻类生物质转化为碳氢化合物燃料；(b)研究脂肪酸及其衍生物通过脱羧/脱羰转化为碳氢化合物燃料；(c)研究木质素氧化分解生产液体燃料；(d)接近木质素的亲核分解，以生产燃料和化学品；(e)研究将藻油合成生物制剂的基因工程转化为能够大规模生产的宿主；(f)评估从木质纤维素生物质中生产燃料的不同微藻菌株；(g)开发高能锂离子系统的电池电解质。

With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) and Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities (CRIF) programs, the University of Kentucky acquires a gas chromatograph with dual detection capabilities: a flame ionization detector and a mass spectrometer. The system is used to separate and analyze the composition of mixtures of substances obtained from various sources including samples obtained from chemical reactions, energy-related research and batteries used for energy storage. Using this instrument, the samples are heated and then the gases are allowed to pass through columns filled with substances that interact to various degrees with the sample components and thus the components move at different speeds through the columns. This allows separation of the components. These species are analyzed using a flame ionization detector after the gases are burned to produce ions. The ions are then attracted by a polarizing electrical voltage. The current is sensed by an electrometer. In a mass spectrometer, the components are ionized and the spectrometer determines their mass by measuring the mass to charge ratio (m/z) of the ions. These are a widely used analytical tools to determine the composition of a mixture or material. Students are trained to use this instrumentation in their research, preparing them for their later careers in energy-related fields.The instrument is used in research especially in areas such as: (a) upgrading of algal biomass to hydrocarbon fuels via catalytic hydrodeoxygenation; (b) studying the conversion of fatty acids and their derivatives to hydrocarbon fuels via decarboxylation / decarbonylation; (c) studying lignin oxidative deconstruction for the production of liquid fuels; (d) approaching nucleophilic deconstruction of lignin for the production of fuels and chemicals; (e) studying genetic engineering of algal oil synthetic biopaths into hosts capable of large-scale production; (f) evaluating different microalgae strains for the production of fuels from lignocellulosic biomass; and (g) developing battery electrolytes for high energy lithium-ion system.