MRI: Acquisition of a Liquid/Supercritical Fluid Chromatoghraphy Mass Spectrometer for Energy and Environmental Research

来自重大研究仪器计划的这项奖励将用于购买一台用于拉斐特学院和邻近大学的环境和能源研究的液相色谱/超临界流体/质谱仪(LC/SFC/MS)。LC/SFC/MS将能够对这些系统中的成分进行量化和鉴定。加强对每个系统的了解将有助于制定战略，以调和消极影响并优化与能源和环境应用有关的有益结果。此外，邻近机构使用LC/SFC/MS将促进这些目标，并为该仪器的使用以及绿色化学和工程方面的培训提供外展机会。该仪器将被多个小组用于研究，并为本科生研究人员提供教育经验。在适当的情况下，这种仪器还将作为多个班级的高级教学工具。LC/SFC/MS是一个组合系统，将改变拉斐特学院的研究能力。该仪器具有高清晰度和准确的分析能力，具有足够的通用性，可用于多种应用。LC和SFC的独特组合将使我们的教职员工和学生研究人员能够对广泛的目标分析物进行反相和正相分离。MS与层析系统联用是一种强大的技术，具有从复杂基质中进行未知分子鉴定和化合物分离的能力，同时为具有从极性到非极性的广泛挥发性成分的定量和鉴定提供了足够的灵敏度。该仪器将用于推动与能源和环境应用相关的高影响力的教师领导的研究，具体项目如下：1)二氧化碳介导的反应，用于选择性和可持续的生物柴油生产；2)使用绿色溶剂从微藻中选择性地提取和回收有价值的副产品；3)产品鉴定和大气气溶胶生长途径的机理阐明；以及4)了解淡水系统中硫醇的产生和去向。

This award from the Major Research Instrumentation Program will fund the acquisition of a liquid chromatography/supercritical fluid/mass spectrometer (LC/SFC/MS) for both environmental and energy research at Lafayette College and proximate universities. The LC/SFC/MS will enable the quantification and identification of components in these systems. The enhanced understanding of each system would allow for the development of strategies to mediate negative implications and optimize for beneficial outcomes related to energy and environmental applications. Additionally, the use of the LC/SFC/MS by neighboring institutions will further these goals and provide outreach opportunities for training in both the use of the instrument as well as green chemistry and engineering. The instrumentation will be used by multiple groups for research and provide educational experiences for undergraduate student researchers. When appropriate this instrumentation will also serve as an advanced teaching tool in multiple classes.The LC/SFC/MS is a combined system that will transform the research capabilities at Lafayette College. The instrument is capable of high definition and accurate analyses with sufficient versatility for use in many applications. The unique combination of LC and SFC will make both reverse- and normal-phase separations accessible to our faculty and student researchers for a wide range of target analytes. MS coupled to a chromatography system is a robust technique possessing the ability to perform unknown molecule identification and compound isolation from complex matrices while providing ample sensitivity for quantification and identification of components with a wide spectrum of volatilities that range from polar to nonpolar. This instrumentation will be used to advance high impact faculty-led research relevant to energy and environmental applications with specific projects as follows: 1) CO2 mediated reactions for selective and sustainable biodiesel production, 2) Selective extraction and recycling of valuable co-products from microalgae using green solvents, 3) Product identification and mechanism elucidation of atmospheric aerosol growth pathways, and 4) Understanding of the production and fate of thiols in freshwater systems.