MRI: Track 1: Acquisition of Agilent 8700 Laser Direct Infrared (LDIR) Chemical Imaging System

主要研究仪器(MRI)奖将向北伊利诺伊大学(NIU)提供资金，用于购买、运营和维护安捷伦8700激光直接红外(LDIR)化学成像系统，用于检测环境中的微塑料。微塑料在环境中无处不在。随着人口的持续增长，一次性包装材料和一次性物品的生产也在不断增加。微塑料在我们的自然环境中正在迅速积累。LDIR是一项尖端技术，它提供了一种新的方法，提高了我们检测微塑料颗粒、确定其大小并获取有关检测到的每种颗粒类型的详细信息的能力。微塑料将从产生到检测，在环境中和食物网中的运输，在人类体内的生物积累，对健康的影响，降解，最后是环境补救。LDIR将为研究生和本科生在仪器和研究项目方面的培训提供极好的资源。研究生将利用这一工具在多个系和学院的MS和博士项目中使用。此外，北卡罗来纳大学有一个本科生研究培训计划，研究新秀，将有兴趣学习科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)研究的本科生与从事研究项目的教师配对。NU还举办了本科生研究体验(REU)，重点是增加水科学的多样性；REU的项目将包括微塑料。LDIR为光谱分析和化学成像提供了一种新方法。LDIR利用光源的独特特性，即可快速调谐的量子级联激光器，首先扫描样品中的感兴趣区域，以确定是否存在颗粒，并记录颗粒在样品分析区域中的位置。然后，它检查每个单独的粒子并获得光谱，将其与光谱库进行比较以进行分类，并更新结果。该仪器将测量微塑料在不同介质(空气、水、沉积物)中的影响，并带头确定这种新出现的令人关注的污染物的影响。利用激光雷达的潜在研究项目的多媒体和多尺度性质将使该中心成为一个独特的中心。获得LDIR将使NIU的研究人员能够与地区、美国和国际团队形成合作，致力于更好地了解微塑料的命运和运输。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award will provide funds to Northern Illinois University (NIU) to acquire, operate and maintain an Agilent 8700 Laser Direct Infrared (LDIR) Chemical Imaging System for detection of microplastics in the environment. Microplastics are ubiquitous in the environment. As the human population continues to increase, so too does the production of disposable packaging materials and single-use items. Microplastics are rapidly accumulating within our natural environment. The LDIR is a cutting-edge technology that provides a new method that advances our ability to detect microplastic particles, determine their size, and acquire detailed information about each particle type detected. Microplastics will be examined from creation to detection, transport in the environment and into food webs, bioaccumulation in humans, impact on health, degradation, and finally environmental remediation. The LDIR will provide an excellent resource for training graduate and undergraduate students on both instrumentation and research projects in general. Graduate students will utilize this instrument for MS and PhD projects across multiple departments and colleges. Further, NIU has an undergraduate research-training program, Research Rookies that pairs undergraduates with interest in learning about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) research with faculty working on research projects. NIU also hosts a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) that focuses on increasing diversity in the hydrosciences; projects for the REU will include microplastics.LDIR provides a new method for spectral analysis and chemical imaging. Utilizing the unique properties of the light source, a rapidly tunable Quantum Cascade Laser, the LDIR first scans the area of interest in the sample to determine the presence or absence and records the location of particles in the sample analysis area. It then examines each individual particle and obtains a spectrum, compares it to the spectral library for classification, and updates the results. The instrument will measure impacts of microplastics in different media (air, water, sediment) and lead the way in determining the impact of this contaminant of emerging concern. The multi-media and multi-scale nature of potential research projects utilizing the LDIR will make this a unique center. Access to the LDIR will enable NIU researchers to form collaborations with regional, US-wide, and international teams working toward a better understanding of the fate and transport of microplastics.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.