BRIGE: Online measurement of submicron aerosol composition using AC-CIMS

EEC-0823847 McNeillBRIGE奖项通过增加ENG研究人员的多样性来维持全球竞争力，这些研究人员在职业生涯早期就开始了研究计划。布里奇奖通过增加工程学毕业生的数量，改善女性和少数族裔在工程学中的代表性，以及了解如何更好地招聘和留住工程学学生，进一步扩大了工程学研究人员的参与范围。该布里奇奖将调查快速响应、高灵敏度的气溶胶颗粒组成测量，这些测量需要爆炸物探测、生物气溶胶分析以及大气气溶胶的实验室和现场研究。该项目将开发气溶胶浓缩化学电离质谱仪(AC-CIMS)，这是一种在线、在低总气溶胶浓度下对气溶胶有机物进行形态测量的技术。主要的研究目标是设计、开发和表征一种新型的亚微米气溶胶浓缩进气口，该进气口具有等温采样、低切点和符合CIMS操作要求的特点。进气口将与挥发流管和CIMS仪器对接。ACCIMS的性能将使用实验室产生的和周围环境的气溶胶进行表征。AC-CIMS将适用于任何需要在低总气溶胶负荷下检测痕量气溶胶有机物的应用。在大气研究中的应用包括在低的实际气溶胶浓度下的二次有机气溶胶形成的实验室研究，以及对气溶胶有机物的具有物种的、高时间分辨率的现场测量。气溶胶浓缩进气口的设计将是模块化和通用的，足以与任何现有的CIMS系统或具有类似压力要求的其他分析仪器一起使用。根据布里奇的目标，该项目将为麦克尼尔集团在NSF化学、生物工程、环境和运输系统部门的职权范围内进行涉及AC-CIMS技术应用的未来研究奠定基础。研究团队将由三代女性化学工程师组成。该项目将鼓励研究团队的初级成员在毕业后继续从事化学工程，为他们提供机会，让他们在女性导师的指导下参与尖端研究，在同行评议的出版物上发表他们的工作，并在科学会议上介绍他们的工作。这项布里奇拨款将扩大所有工程师的参与，并增加他们的机会，包括那些来自工程学学科中代表性较低的群体的工程师。这笔布里奇补助金还将鼓励PI作为独立调查员积极和有竞争力地参与研究。

EEC-0823847McNeillBRIGE awards maintain global competitiveness by increasing the diversity of ENG researchers, who are initiating research programs early in their careers. BRIGE awards further the broaden participation of engineering researchers by increasing the number of engineering graduates, by improving the representation of women and minorities in engineering, and by understanding how to improve recruitment and retention of engineering students.This BRIGE award will investigate fast-time-response, high-sensitivity measurements of aerosol particle composition, which are in demand for explosives detection, bioaerosol analysis, and laboratory and field studies of atmospheric aerosols. This project will develop Aerosol Concentrating Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry (AC-CIMS), a technique for on-line, speciated measurements of aerosol organics at low total aerosol concentrations. The primary research goal is to design, develop, and characterize a novel concentrating inlet for submicron aerosols that samples isothermally, has a low cutpoint, and conforms to the operating requirements of CIMS. The inlet will be interfaced with a volatilization flow tube and a CIMS instrument. The performance of ACCIMS will be characterized using laboratory-generated and ambient aerosols.AC-CIMS will be suitable for any application requiring the detection of trace aerosol organics at low total aerosol loadings. Applications in atmospheric research include laboratory studies of secondary organic aerosol formation at low, realistic aerosol concentrations, as well as speciated, highly time-resolved field measurements of aerosol organics. The aerosol concentrating inlet design will be modular and general enough for use with any existing CIMS system or other analytical instruments with similar pressure requirements. In line with the goals of BRIGE, this project will set the stage for the McNeill group to conduct future research involving applications of the AC-CIMS technique under the purview of the NSF Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems. The research team will consist of three generations of female chemical engineers. This project will encourage the junior members of the research team to pursue careers in chemical engineering after graduation by providing opportunities for them to participate in cutting-edge research under the supervision of a female mentor, publish their work in peer-reviewed publications, and attend and present their work at scientific conferences.This BRIGE grant will broaden the participation of and increase opportunities for all engineers including those from groups underrepresented in the engineering disciplines. This BRIGE grant will also encourage the PI to become actively and competitively engaged in research as an independent investigator.