Near Infrared Spectroscopy for Remote, In-Situ Chemical Analysis

该项目涉及近红外（NIR）光谱仪的收购，填补了部门紫外可见光和中红外光谱之间的“光谱差距”。该仪器提供了一个探索和应用学术课程中最被忽视的光谱方法之一的机会。 近红外光谱的应用兴趣在过去十年中急剧增加，特别是在化学工业环境中。然而，由于缺乏适当的仪器，该部门无法充分传达该方法在工业，农业和生物应用中的当前相关性。为了更好地准备本科生，不仅是那些主修化学的学生，也包括那些攻读工程和生物学相关领域学位的学生，该项目在大二和大四阶段引入了几个旨在强调近红外光谱广泛适用性的实验。该项目的实验将遥感与近红外光谱学结合起来，研究与工业和生物学有关的过程。此外，为了提高复杂近红外光谱的灵敏度和选择性，学生们被教导谨慎使用信号处理算法。接触近红外光谱的毕业生将更有资格，更能够用最好的技术解决相关问题。 除了该计划的仪器的影响，不仅有利于本科生，但也出席了最被忽视的，但最强大的，光谱方法之一。

This project involves acquisition of a near infrared (NIR) spectrometer, filling "the spectral gap" between UV-visible and mid-infrared spectroscopy in the department. This instrument represents an opportunity to explore and apply one of the spectroscopic methods most neglected in academic course offerings. Interest in the applications of NIR spectroscopy has increased dramatically in the last decade, particularly in chemical industrial settings. However, this department is not able to adequately convey the current relevance of this methodology in industrial, agricultural, and biological applications because of the lack of proper instrumentation. To better prepare undergraduate students, not only those majoring in chemistry but also those pursuing degrees in engineering and biology-related fields, the project is introducing, at the sophomore and senior level, several experiments designed to emphasize the wide range of applicability of NIR spectroscopy. The project's experiments couple remote sensing with NIR spectroscopy to study processes relevant to industry and biology. Furthermore, to improve the sensitivity and selectivity of complex NIR spectra, students are taught the cautious use of signal processing algorithms. Graduates who are exposed to NIR spectroscopy will be better qualified and more able to tackle relevant questions with the best available technologies. The impact of this addition to the program's instrumentation not only benefits undergraduate students, but also attends to one of the most neglected, yet most powerful, spectroscopic methodologies.