MRI: Acquisition of a High Resolution Plasma Source Mass Spectrometer and Sample Introduction System for Multidisciplinary Geosciences Research and Education

自然沃茨、沉积物、空气中的灰尘、雨水和海洋微生物群的元素组成包含了对了解地球系统的运作及其过去和未来轨迹至关重要的信息，这些信息对人类社会至关重要。 此外，进行和解释这种化学分析的能力是海洋和地球科学领域许多科学专业人员教育和培训的一个重要部分。 等离子体源质谱法是最常用的元素分析方法之一，其中新一代的样品引入系统耦合到高分辨率电感耦合等离子体质谱仪（HR-ICP-MS）允许在各种天然材料中进行常规元素测定，元素浓度范围很大。这项重大研究仪器奖将支持收购一种新的，最先进的HR-ICP-MS和专用的进样系统，将被安置在旧自治领大学的海洋，地球和大气科学系（OEAS）。 该设备代表了16岁的系统现在到位的必要更换和升级，并迫切需要满足部门教师和研究生研究人员的当前和未来的研究需求，以及提供必要的培训和教育OEAS博士后研究人员，研究生和本科专业。 新的分析设备将由一名在HR-ICP-MS分析方面经验丰富的专门研究专家维护和操作，该专家将接受新仪器和进样系统使用和维护方面的额外具体培训。

The elemental composition of natural waters, sediments, airborne dust, rainwater and marine microbiota contains information that is essential to an understanding the workings of Earth system, and its past and future trajectories, which are of fundamental importance to human society. Moreover, the ability to perform and interpret such chemical analyses is an essential part of the education and training of many scientific professionals within the field of ocean and earth sciences. Among the most commonly used methods for such elemental analyses is plasma source mass spectrometry, whereby a new generation of sample introduction systems coupled to a high-resolution inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer (HR-ICP-MS) allows routine elemental determinations in a wide variety of natural materials, over large ranges in elemental concentrations.This Major Research Instrumentation award will support the acquisition of a new, state-of-the-art HR-ICP-MS and dedicated sample introduction system, which will be housed in Old Dominion University's Department of Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (OEAS). This equipment represents an essential replacement and upgrade of the 16-year-old system now in place, and is critically required to meet the current and future research demands of departmental faculty and graduate researchers, as well as provide essential training and education to OEAS postdoctoral researchers, graduate students and undergraduate majors. The new analytical equipment will be maintained and operated by a dedicated research specialist who is highly experienced in HR-ICP-MS analysis, and who will receive additional specific training in the use and maintenance of the new instrument and sample introduction system.