MRI: Acquisition of Time of Flight-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer to support multi-disciplinary research and training in South Carolina and Nationw

该奖项将允许收购飞行时间电感耦合等离子体质谱（TOF-ICP-MS）。通常，ICP-MS广泛用于在完全消化成溶解形式后分析复杂基质中的金属同位素。虽然这种形式的ICP-MS分析仍然是常用的，但产生瞬态（短至500微秒）信号的替代采样方法正在被广泛采用，例如单颗粒和单细胞ICP-MS分析。顺序扫描ICP-MS仪器仅限于测量一种元素的瞬态信号。然而，许多材料是由多种元素组成的。TOF-ICP-MS允许：1）在小于50微秒的每次测量中完全同时检测从Li到U的元素的整个质谱; 2）快速瞬态信号中的多元素测定，例如单粒子和单细胞; 3）提高的精度，特别是用于测量同位素比; 4）实时内部标准化;以及5）非靶向分析，即，在没有样品中分析物的先验知识的情况下识别样品中的分析物。收购TOF-ICP-MS将填补南卡罗来纳州大学元素分析设施的一个关键空白，使瞬态信号的同时，非目标，多元素分析。收购TOF-ICP-MS将加强正在进行的基础研究并支持各种应用，包括：1）表征天然纳米颗粒（NNPs），以更好地了解其特性，环境行为/功能以及环境和人类健康影响; 2）表征工程（ENPs），以支持新ENPs的开发并评估环境ENPs暴露的潜在环境和人类健康影响; 3）偶然纳米粒子（INPs）的表征，以了解废物燃烧和热处理过程中排放的气溶胶中金属的命运和行为及其对空气质量的影响;和4）为NSF资助的弗吉尼亚理工大学国家地球和环境纳米技术基础设施中心（NanoEarth）提供分析支持。这些项目都处于各自领域的最前沿，但它们的持续成功取决于能否随时获得拟议的仪器。 收购TOF-ICP-MS将加强和加速PI与教师、联邦机构之间的现有合作（EPA，NIST和USGS）和NanoEarth，该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查进行评估，被认为值得支持的搜索.

This award will permit the acquisition of a time of flight-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (TOF-ICP-MS). In general, ICP-MS is widely used to analyze metal isotopes in complex matrices after complete digestion into dissolved form. Although this form of ICP-MS analysis remains commonly used, alternative sampling approaches that produce transient (as short as 500 microseconds) signals are being adapted extensively, such as single particle and single cell ICP-MS analysis. Sequential scanning ICP-MS instrumentations are limited to measuring transient signals of one element only. However, many materials are composed of multi elements. The TOF-ICP-MS allow: 1) full simultaneous detection of the entire mass spectrum of elements from Li to U for every single measurement in less than 50 microseconds; 2) multi-element determinations in fast transient signals such as single particles and single cells; 3) improved precision, particularly for measuring isotope ratios; 4) real-time internal standardization; and 5) untargeted analysis, i.e., identifying analytes in a sample without a priori knowledge of analytes in the sample. The acquisition of the TOF-ICP-MS will fill a crucial gap in elemental analytical facilities at the University of South Carolina by enabling simultaneous, untargeted, multi-element analysis of transient signals. The acquisition of TOF-ICP-MS will enhance on-going fundamental studies and support diverse applications including: 1) characterization of natural nanoparticles (NNPs) to better understand their properties, environmental behaviors/functions, and environmental and human health implications; 2) characterization of engineered (ENPs) to underpin development of new ENPs and assess environmental ENP exposure for potential environmental and human health implications; 3) characterization of incidental nanoparticles (INPs) to understand the fate and behavior of metals in aerosols emitted during combustion and thermal processing of wastes and their impact on air quality; and 4) provide analytical support for the NSF-funded Virginia Tech National Center for Earth and Environmental Nanotechnology Infrastructure (NanoEarth). These projects are at the forefront of their respective fields, yet their continued success hinges on ready access to the proposed instrumentation. The acquisition of the TOF-ICP-MS will enhance and accelerate existing collaborations between the PI and faculty, federal agencies (EPA, NIST and USGS), and NanoEarth, and will allow the researchers to establish new collaborations with other institutions nationally and internationally.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.