MRI: Acquisition of an Advanced Gravimetric Analyzer for Materials Research at KU-Lawrence

该主要研究仪器奖支持在堪萨斯大学获得先进的重量分析系统。该仪器将大大加快研究气体和蒸汽在广泛的温度、压力和湿度范围内对液体和固体的吸附。使用这种先进的重量分析仪系统的结果将提供对这些材料中吸附剂相互作用的关键因素的深刻理解。化学工程师和化学家将能够研究在高压下操作的反应和分离，并使用需要催化剂和吸附剂的反应气体来提高生产率。地质学家和地球物理学家将能够获得有关气体和蒸汽如何在大气条件下和高温高压下氧化和减少岩石和矿物的数据。物理学家可以测量各种材料表面气体的吸附，制药科学家将能够研究与药物功能相关的各种类型的相互作用。该研究项目还将通过大学预科到研究生阶段的外展项目，让STEM领域中代表性不足的群体的个人参与进来，扩大科学和工程领域的参与。美国国家标准与技术研究所、美国化学会、美国化学工程师学会和美国国家工程师学会已经确定了在复杂环境中表征材料的迫切需求。因此，需要测量多组分相平衡和动力学数据的方法和仪器。先进的重量分析仪系统将是第一个能够测量模拟真实环境的混合气体吸附和解吸的磁悬浮天平。此外，微天平将与现有的高压量热计配合使用。重量分析仪和量热计的组合将允许同时测量溶解度，动力学和吸附热/反应。这种全面的理解对于催化剂、吸附剂和生物材料等功能材料的合理开发以及从根本上理解、建模和模拟汽液平衡和固气平衡是必不可少的。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。

This Major Research Instrumentation award supports the acquisition of an advanced gravimetric analyzer system at the University of Kansas. The instrument will significantly accelerate studies on the sorption of gases and vapors into liquids and solids over a wide range of temperature, pressure, and humidity. The results from using this advanced gravimetric analyzer system will provide a deep understanding of the key factors governing the interactions of sorbents in these materials. Chemical engineers and chemists will be able to study reactions and separations that operate at high pressure and using reactive gases that require catalysts and adsorbents to improve productivity. Geologists and geophysicists will be able to acquire data on how gases and vapors oxidize and reduce rocks and minerals at atmospheric conditions and at high temperatures and pressures. Physicists can measure the sorption of gases on various material surfaces, and pharmaceutical scientists will be able to study various types of interactions relevant to drug functions. The research project also will broaden participation in science and engineering by engaging individuals from groups underrepresented in STEM fields through outreach programs at the pre-college to post-graduate level. The National Institute of Standards and Technology, American Chemical Society, American Institute of Chemical Engineers and National Academy of Engineers have identified a critical need to characterize materials in complex environments. Thus, there is a need for methods and instruments for measuring multicomponent phase equilibria and kinetic data. The advanced gravimetric analyzer system will be the first magnetic suspension balance capable of measuring adsorption and desorption of mixed gases that simulate real-world environments. In addition, the microbalance will be mated with an existing high-pressure calorimeter. The combination of a gravimetric analyzer and calorimeter will allow the simultaneous measurement of solubility, kinetics, and heats of sorption/reaction. Such a comprehensive understanding is essential for the rational development of functional materials such as, catalysts, sorbents, and biomaterials and to fundamentally understand, model, and simulate vapor-liquid equilibria and solid-vapor equilibria.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.