Acquisition of a FT-ICR Mass Spectrometer for Structural Characterization of Natural Organic Matter

本提案请求支持购买一台傅里叶变换离子回旋共振质谱仪（FT-ICR MS），用于伍兹霍尔海洋研究所的水生生物地球化学研究。该仪器旨在支持有机地球化学和海洋地球化学的新研究方向，包括在大分子量范围内的超高分辨率和高质量精度，多种电离模式，包括电喷雾电离（ESI），大气压化学电离（APCI）和基质辅助激光解吸电离（MALDI），以及其他大分子结构解析的选择。预计应用将包括在分子水平上阐明控制海洋有机物循环、转化和保存的生物和非生物过程的一般领域的广泛项目。它将作为WHOI的成本中心进行管理，向教员、博士后助理和学生开放，并根据用户资格和需要提供技术支持和/或培训。更广泛的影响计划中的教育举措特别针对研究生的研究，他们将有广泛的机会使用该设施进行方法分析和研究应用，本科生将通过暑期研究所课程和使用，少数民族学生将获得年度奖学金，将FT-ICR质谱法应用于研究项目。该设施本身将成为海洋研究人员的重要新能力，可供WHOI和外部用户使用。

This proposal requests support for the acquisition of a Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (FT-ICR MS) for research in aquatic biogeochemistry at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The proposed instrumentation is intended to support novel research directions in organic geochemistry and marine geochemistry, including ultrahigh resolution and high mass accuracy over a broad molecular weight range, versatile ionization modes including electrospray ionization (ESI), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI), and other options for the structural elucidation of large molecules. Applications are expected to include a broad array of projects in the general area of molecular level elucidation of the biotic and abiotic processes that govern the cycling, transformation and preservation of marine organic matter. It will be managed as a cost center at WHOI, open to faculty, postdoctoral associates and students with technical support and/or training provided, depending on user qualifications and needs. Broader ImpactsThe planned educational initiatives specifically target research by graduate students, who will have extensive access to the facility for methods analysis and research applications, undergraduates who will have access through summer institute courses and use, and minority students for whom annual fellowships will be provided to apply FT-ICR mass spectrometry to research projects. The facility itself will be an important new capability for marine researchers, accessible to both WHOI and outside users.