Helium Recycling for UIC Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

项目摘要 核磁共振（NMR）是表征小分子的关键技术， 蛋白质，包括其结构，动态监测和定量分析等。进行适当 在NMR仪器的操作中，需要低温液体如氦来保持低的温度。 操作所需的温度。氦是一种有限的自然资源， 在常规操作和偶尔操作期间， 磁铁填充。为了解决这个问题，商业供应商已经开发了氦气捕获和回收 系统能够解决蒸发损失。在伊利诺伊大学芝加哥分校（UIC），我们共享的NMR 位于结构生物学中心的仪器核心，装有三台NMR光谱仪， 计划在今后几个月安装更多的仪器。因此，该设施需要大量的 液氦，既昂贵又消耗大量的自然资源。针对这一资金 公告，我们建议准备网站，并安装一个氦回收装置，具有多- 结构生物学中心的仪器能力。这个新系统的加入将简化我们的 我们的目标是通过提高运营效率，实现设施现代化，并扩大这一共享设施的用户群。

Project summary Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a critical technique for characterization of small molecules such as proteins, including their structure, dynamics monitoring and quantitative analysis, among others. For proper operation of NMR instrumentation, cryogenic liquids such as helium are necessary to maintain low temperatures required for operation. Helium is a limited natural resource and much of the cryogenic liquid used for instruments such as NMR is released to the atmosphere during both routine operation and occasional magnet fills. To address this issue, commercial vendors have developed helium gas capture and recycling systems to be able to address the boil off loss. At the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), our shared NMR instrument core, located in the Center for Structural Biology, houses three NMR spectrometers with an additional instrument planned for installation in the coming months. Thus, this facility demands substantial liquid helium, which is both costly and uses a depleting natural resource. In response to this funding announcement, we are proposing to prepare the site and install a helium recycling unit that has multi- instrument capabilities in the Center for Structural Biology. The addition of this new system will streamline our operations, modernize our facility and enable an increased user base for this shared facility.