Acquisition of an oil-free air compressor for support of solid-state NMR spectrometers

需要资金购买一台无油高压空气压缩机，以提供达尔豪西大学核磁共振研究资源中的固态核磁共振光谱仪。固态核磁共振实验既需要高速旋转样品，也需要样品冷却，以获得有用的数据。纺纱和冷却都是在高压、非常干净和非常干燥的空气供应下完成的。该设施中目前的压缩机已经过时，很快就会磨损；已经花费了相当多的时间、精力和金钱将其修补在一起。没有压缩机，固态核磁共振光谱仪基本上毫无用处。这些光谱仪为达尔豪西和该地区的各种实验室提供数据，包括学术和工业方面的数据。这项提案强调了三个方面。约瑟夫·兹万齐格正在研究用于高性能仪器和光纤通信的光学玻璃。玻璃结构是这项研究的重要组成部分，主要由固态核磁共振确定。丹尼尔·博伊德正在开发用于癌症治疗的生物活性玻璃；同样，固态核磁共振是一项基本的表征技术。最后，简·雷尼正在研究和优化蜘蛛丝，这是一种具有惊人机械性能的天然材料。他的工作也完全依赖于核磁共振数据。如果没有空气压缩机，固态核磁共振光谱仪将不得不关闭，这些非常成功的研究项目以及该地区的许多其他项目将被阻止。

Funds are requested to purchase an oil-free, high pressure air compressor to supply solid-state NMR spectrometers in the Dalhousie University Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Research Resource. Solid-state NMR experiments require both high speed sample spinning, and sample cooling, in order to obtain useful data. Both spinning and cooling are accomplished with a supply of high pressure, very clean and very dry air. The current compressor in the facility is obsolete and wearing out quickly; considerable time, effort, and money have already been spent patching it together. Without a compressor, the solid-state NMR spectrometers are essentially useless. These spectrometers provide data for a wide variety of labs at Dalhousie and the region, both academic and industrial. Three are highlighted in this proposal. Josef Zwanziger is studying optical glass for use in high performance instrumentation and fiber optic communication. The glass structure, an essential part of the research, is determined largely by solid-state NMR. Daniel Boyd is developing bioactive glasses for use in cancer treatments; again, solid-state NMR is an essential characterization technique. Finally, Jan Rainey is studying and optimizing spider silk, a natural material with amazing mechanical properties. His work as well is completely dependent on NMR data. Without an air compressor, the solid-state NMR spectrometers will have to be closed down and these highly successful research programs, and many others in the region, will be blocked.