MRI: Acquisition of an Infrared Microscope for Research Expansion and Training in the Earth Sciences

MRI：购买红外显微镜用于地球科学研究扩展和培训

• 批准号: 2018848
• 负责人: Monica Arienzo
• 金额: $ 13.88万
• 依托单位: Nevada System of Higher Education, Desert Research Institute
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2020-09-01 至 2022-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2018848&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: MRI; Acquisition; Infrared; Microscope; Research

This award supports the acquisition of a microscope-enabled Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy instrument at the Desert Research Institute (DRI), for research expansion and training of DRI/University of Nevada, Reno undergraduate and graduate students. Infrared microscopy provides fundamental information on the molecular structure of organic and inorganic compounds and is both non-destructive and versatile. This instrument will be used to advance knowledge for at least two areas of research: 1) identification of microplastics (plastic particulates 5 mm) in environmental samples; and 2) reconstruction of past wildfire temperatures from sedimentary charcoal deposits. Such research will potentially transform the scientific community through further testing of new applications, field, and laboratory methodologies. In addition, the team of early career and experienced faculty and their students will use the infrared microscope to advance knowledge for various applications in the earth sciences including archaeology, sedimentology, climate change, assessment of human impacts to the environment, and paleoclimate. Undergraduate and graduate students will be engaged in hands-on training using this instrument through research experiences and teaching opportunities.The microscope-enabled Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy instrument will support a wide range of research and educational opportunities at DRI. The infrared microscope will be used for the identification of microplastics in environmental samples, to further field and laboratory sampling methodologies for microplastics, development of a spatiotemporal dataset of polymer types, and to assess plastic/biotic interactions. In addition, this instrument will further test the application of infrared microscopy for determining wildfire combustion temperature from western U.S. sedimentary charcoal. These areas of research have implications for: 1) the identification of microplastic pollution sources and 2) placing modern wildfire observations in the context of past wildfires. Through these projects, the instrument will enhance research in areas of the Earth sciences and enable hands-on training to visiting researchers and students. The infrared microscope will provide the team of early career and experienced faculty with a state-of-the-art research tool necessary to establish new areas of research and to broaden collaborations.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.

该奖项支持在沙漠研究所 (DRI) 购买一台具有显微镜功能的傅里叶变换红外光谱仪器，用于 DRI/内华达大学里诺分校本科生和研究生的研究扩展和培训。红外显微镜可提供有关有机和无机化合物分子结构的基本信息，并且具有无损性和多功能性。该仪器将用于推进至少两个研究领域的知识：1）识别环境样品中的微塑料（塑料颗粒 5 毫米）； 2）根据沉积木炭矿床重建过去的野火温度。通过进一步测试新的应用、领域和实验室方法，此类研究将有可能改变科学界。此外，由早期职业生涯和经验丰富的教师及其学生组成的团队将使用红外显微镜来推进地球科学各种应用的知识，包括考古学、沉积学、气候变化、人类对环境影响的评估和古气候。本科生和研究生将通过研究经验和教学机会使用该仪器进行实践培训。具有显微镜功能的傅里叶变换红外光谱仪将为 DRI 提供广泛的研究和教育机会。红外显微镜将用于识别环境样品中的微塑料，进一步开发微塑料的现场和实验室采样方法，开发聚合物类型的时空数据集，并评估塑料/生物相互作用。此外，该仪器将进一步测试红外显微镜在确定美国西部沉积木炭野火燃烧温度方面的应用。这些研究领域具有以下意义：1）识别微塑料污染源；2）将现代野火观测置于过去野火的背景下。通过这些项目，该仪器将加强地球科学领域的研究，并为访问研究人员和学生提供实践培训。红外显微镜将为早期职业和经验丰富的教师团队提供建立新研究领域和扩大合作所必需的最先进的研究工具。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

项目成果

A Peristaltic Pump and Filter-Based Method for Aqueous Microplastic Sampling and Analysis

• DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.1c00270
• 发表时间: 2022-01
• 期刊: ACS ES&T Water
• 作者: Z. Harrold;M. Arienzo;Meghan Collins;Julia M. Davidson;Xuelian Bai;Suja Sukumaran;J. Umek