MRI: Acquisition of an Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer for Compound-Specific Applications in Biogeochemistry and Environmental Studies at UC Santa Cruz

稳定同位素分析现在是各种研究中最重要的工具之一，其关键应用跨越海洋学，生物地球化学循环研究，生态学和食物网，古生态学，考古学和古气候学。所有这些领域的工作越来越需要在各种样品类型中对一系列元素（碳、氢、氧、氮、硫）的同位素比率进行灵敏的分析，最具创新性的项目越来越需要新的、前沿的方法，例如单个有机化合物的同位素分析（CSIA）。这份授予加州大学圣克鲁斯分校（UCSC）的合同包括购买一台同位素比率监测质谱仪（IRMS），为多学科的研究人员和学生提供服务。此次收购将产生更广泛的影响。首先，这些仪器将大大扩展UCSC的基础研究基础设施，支持核心校园优先领域在沿海科学和环境可持续性研究方面的卓越表现。它有力地增强了UCSC的核心教育和教学使命，允许研究生和博士后培训尖端仪器，同时支持更大范围的项目。该仪器将支持本科生的研究，通过高级论文和直接参与研究实验室，以及将动手项目纳入更高水平的课程。项目团队还将与加州大学圣迭戈分校的学生成功部门合作，制定一项新的暑期推广计划。UCSC将获得Thermo Scientific 253+同位素比值质谱仪（IRMS），配备两个前端外围设备，具有尖端的CSIA能力，包括对未知化合物进行同位素测量的能力，以及硫同位素能力的增加。这种高灵敏度IRMS将有两个主要的样品输入外设：(1)GC-Trace Ultra-GC连接到TSQ Duo三重四轴质谱仪，并配置可编程的Tri-Plus RSH自动进样器，能够自动衍生化/标准添加；(2) IsoLink CNOHS元素分析仪（EA），具有新的统一燃烧/热解设计，将提供所需的硫同位素能力。选择此配置中的每个组件来满足关键需求。10kv 253 IRMS将提供高灵敏度，允许一系列新的纳米级化合物特定应用，特别是对单个化合物N测量至关重要。定制的Tri-Plus RHS自动进样器可以通过自动添加内部标准品来制造和注入衍生品。这将提供高样品吞吐量。TSQ双三重四极质谱仪代表了一种全新的尖端能力，允许研究人员在测量其C和N同位素比率时同时识别未知结构。最后，EA IsoLink （CNSOH）接口将首次为UCSC带来测量S同位素的能力，允许在单个样品上同时测量13C， 15N和34S值，即使在极高的C/S比下（例如木材样品）。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Stable isotope analysis is now one of the most important tools in a remarkable variety of research, with key applications spanning oceanography, biogeochemical cycle research, ecology and food webs, paleoecology, archaeology, and paleoclimatogy. Work in all these areas increasingly requires sensitive analysis of the isotope ratios of a range of elements (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur), in a wide variety of sample types, and the most innovative projects increasingly require new, leading-edge approaches, such as isotopic analysis of individual organic compounds (CSIA). This award to the University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC) involves the acquisition of an isotope-ratio-monitoring mass spectrometer (IRMS) to serve investigators and students across multiple disciplines. This acquisition will have wide broader impacts. First, the instrumentation will significantly expand UCSC's basic research infrastructure, supporting core campus priority areas for excellence in coastal sciences and environmental sustainability research. It strongly enhances UCSC's core education and teaching mission, allowing graduate and post-doc training on cutting-edge instrumentation while supporting a far greater range of projects. The instrumentation will support undergraduate research, via senior theses and direct involvement in research labs, as well as the incorporation of hands-on projects into higher level courses. The project team will also develop a new initiative for a summer outreach program, in collaboration with UCSC's division of student success.UCSC will acquire a Thermo Scientific 253+ isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS), with two front-end peripherals configured for cutting-edge CSIA capabilities, including the ability to make isotopic measurements on unknown compounds, and the addition of sulfur isotope capability. This high-sensitivity IRMS will have two main sample input peripherals: (1) a GC-Trace Ultra-GC coupled to a TSQ Duo Triple Quadrapole Mass Spectrometer, and configured with a programmable Tri-Plus RSH auto-sampler capable of automated derivatization/standard additions; and (2) an IsoLink CNOHS Elemental Analyzer (EA) with a new unified combustion/pyrolysis design that will bring needed sulfur isotope capability. Each component in this configuration was chosen to fulfill a critical need. The 10 KV 253 IRMS will provide high sensitivity, allowing a range of new, nano-scale compound-specific applications, particularly critical for individual-compound N measurements. The customized Tri-Plus RHS auto-sampler can both make and inject derivatives with automated addition of internal standards. This will provide high sample throughput. The TSQ Duo Triple Quadrapole Mass Spectrometer represents a completely novel, cutting-edge capability, allowing researchers to simultaneously identify unknown structures as they measure their C and N isotope ratios. Finally, the EA IsoLink (CNSOH) interface will bring the ability to measure S isotopes to UCSC for the first time, allowing 13C, 15N, and 34S values to be measured simultaneously on a single sample, even at extremely high C/S ratios (e.g., wood samples).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.