An ultracentrifuge for advancing research on characterization and remediation of emerging environmental pollutants and on green chemistry

需要一台超速离心机(高速离心机)，以便能够对与环境工程、绿色化学和纳米技术领域的尖端研究有关的纳米颗粒和生物大分子进行创新表征。纳米粒子和生物分子(如核酸)很难从环境样品和各种水溶液中分离出来，因为它们不会沉淀下来。超速离心机将提供先进的能力，从各种原始或受污染的环境样品和实验生物反应器中分离出这些纳米颗粒和核酸。这些仪器将支持使用我们实验室从CFI和NSERC赠款获得的尖端分析仪器进行此类胶体的分析。将得到支持的研究非常及时和重要，涉及(1)评估在人类、野生动物和环境中广泛检测到的持久性和有毒的多氟烷基有机化学品对环境和健康的影响，(2)从消费品释放到水生系统的金属纳米颗粒的环境风险。(Iii)开发用于水处理和促进农业的良性纳米材料，以及(Iv)从生物废水处理过程中回收营养物质和高价值化学物质。该仪器将用于NSERC的四个发现项目，以及由NSERC战略项目补助金、合作研究和发展补助金以及国际研究补助金资助的四个申请者的五个大型多研究者项目。该设备将在未来5年内用于立即培养32名研究生。超离心机将大大提高学生的培训和研究质量，以维持未来加拿大劳动力在环境工程、绿色化学和纳米技术领域的竞争力。

An ultracentrifuge (high speed centrifuge) to enable innovative characterization of nanoparticles and biomacromolecules relating to cutting-edge research in the field of environmental engineering, green chemistry and nanotechnology is requested. Nanoparticles and biomolecules such as nucleic acids are challenging to separate from environmental samples and various aqueous solutions because they do not settle out. The ultracentrifuge will provide advanced capability to isolate these nanoparticles and nucleic acids from various pristine or contaminated environmental samples and from experimental bioreactors. The instruments will support analysis of such colloids using cutting-edge analytical instruments in our laboratories obtained from CFI and NSERC grants. The research to be supported is extremely timely and significant, and involves (i) the assessment of environmental and health implications of persistent and toxic polyfluoroalkyl organic chemicals that have been widely detected in humans, wildlife and the environment, (ii) the environmental risks of metal nanoparticles released from consumer goods into aquatic systems. (iii) the development of benign nanomaterials for water treatment and for promoting agriculture, and (iv) recovery of nutrient and high value chemicals from biological wastewater treatment processes.The instrument will be used for four NSERC Discovery programs, and for 5 large multi-investigator projects of the four applicants funded by NSERC Strategic Project Grants, Collaborative Research and Development Grants, as well as international research grants. The equipment will be used to immediately train 32 graduate students in the next 5 years. The ultracentrifuge will substantially enhance the training and quality of research of students to sustain the competitiveness of future Canadian workforce in the fields of environmental engineering, green chemistry, and nanotechnology.