Back to Capacity: Replacement of a 20-year Old Non-servicable Automated Gas Chromatograph for the Determination of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agriculture

自2005年以来，Tenuta博士的应用土壤生态学实验室充分利用了两台自动气相色谱仪，用于测定农业土壤和粪肥中一氧化二氮、甲烷和二氧化碳等温室气体的排放量。最近，1999年购买的最旧仪器无法使用，超过了使用寿命。Tenuta博士的实验室迫切需要更换该系统，以分析今年收集的积压样品，并启动新的资助项目，这取决于明年收集更多样品的情况。大学里没有其他仪器，也没有商业服务。由于气体分析和样品处理的需求没有改变，因此拟议的仪器在配置上与其取代的仪器相似。该仪器配置为高通量自动进样器，每天能够分析250个气密样品瓶。由于仪器配备了针对每种气体的检测器，因此可以同时分析农业中最重要的三种温室气体。该实验室致力于改善土壤氮的使用，以改善作物和环境健康。研究的重点是比较农民减少温室气体排放的管理做法。用于确定排放量的主要方法是收集土壤或粪肥堆表面的室内积累的气体。气相色谱仪非常适合对玻璃瓶中储存的气体进行高通量分析。该仪器也是培训学生和其他高素质人员操作、分析和气体浓度结果质量控制的核心。仪器的操作和结果使HQP的培训从假设生成、设置和现场研究地点和处理的维护、气体收集、气相色谱仪操作和分析、气体结果处理到排放率、统计分析以及对假设的结论和结果的交流实现了完整的循环。每个实验室的样品和他的合作者的样品的每个样品分析费支持仪器的操作准备以及仪器使用及其结果的培训。预计将有8名研究生、9名本科生和2名博士后研究员将受益于该仪器，该仪器是他们在Tenuta博士实验室接受培训的核心。他高度致力于促进消除土壤科学中妇女和少数民族面临的障碍。这包括提供使用该工具的培训，而不管学生的性别、种族和信仰如何。对仪器的培训是根据个人的信心和以前操作科学设备的经验量身定制的，使所有人都达到熟悉和确信的水平，以利于他们新兴的职业生涯。

Dr. Tenuta's Applied Soil Ecology Laboratory has fully utilized two automated gas chromatographs since 2005 for the determination of the emissions of the greenhouse gases nitrous oxide, methane, and carbon dioxide from agricultural soils and manure. Recently, the oldest of the instruments purchased in 1999 became inoperable and past its serviceable lifespan. Dr. Tenuta's lab urgently requires replacement of the system to analyze a backlog of samples collected this year and to start new funded projects dependent on the collection of even a greater number of samples next year. Other instrumentation is not available at the University, and commercial services are unavailable. The proposed instrument is similar in configuration to the one it replaces as the needs of gas analysis and sample handling have not changed. The instrument is configured for high throughput with an autosampler and capable of analysis of 250 samples per day of air-tight sample vials. The three most important greenhouse gases for agriculture are analyzed simultaneously as the instrument is equipped with detectors for each gas. The lab strives to Better Soil Nitrogen Use Towards Improved Crop and Environmental Health. A keystone of the research is the comparison of farmer management practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The primary method employed to determine emissions is the collection of gases accumulated within chambers on the soil or manure pile surfaces. The gas chromatograph is ideally suited to high throughput analysis of the gases stored in glass vials. The instrument is also central to the training of students and other highly qualified personnel in the operation, analysis and quality control of gas concentration results. The operation and results from the instrument bring full circle the training of HQP from hypothesis generation, setup, and maintenance of field study sites and treatments, gas collection, gas chromatograph operation and analysis, processing of gas results to emission rates, statistical analyses, and conclusion to hypotheses and communication of findings. A per sample analysis fee for each of the lab's samples and those of his collaborators supports the operational readiness of the instrument as well as training in the use of the instrument and its results. An anticipated eight graduate and nine undergraduate students and two post-doctoral fellows will benefit from the instrument being central to their training in Dr. Tenuta's lab. He is highly committed to fostering the removal of barriers facing women and minorities in the soil sciences. This includes providing training in the use of the instrument regardless of a student's gender, race, and beliefs. Training on the instrument is tailored to the individual's confidence and experience in the previous operation of scientific equipment bringing all to a level of familiarity and sureness to benefit their emerging careers.