MRI: Acquisition of Stable Isotope Instrumentation for the Biogeosciences at Princeton University

知识价值：PI正在申请资金，以购买一套用于稳定同位素（N）研究的仪器，包括基于质谱仪的天然丰度同位素系统，示踪同位素系统和现有质谱仪的通用天然丰度外围设备。 所要求的具体仪器包括Thermo Electron MAT 253稳定同位素质谱仪、Thermo DeltaVAdvantage稳定同位素质谱仪（带外围设备）、用于燃烧同位素分析的EA外围设备以及GasBench II二氧化碳制备和纯化系统。 拟议的仪器将使研究工作能够检查自然稳定同位素丰度，包括海洋地球化学和古海洋学，陆地地球化学，前寒武纪地球历史中的碳同位素。 稳定同位素示踪研究将包括生物刺激过程中的硝化作用、固氮作用和碳分配。 更广泛的影响：PI指出，拟议的仪器将扩大该机构的研究能力，特别是地球科学与生态学和进化生物学系。对增湿器方法的改进也将有助于扩大整个海洋研究界的能力。 此外，拟议的仪器将使方法的发展，并提供培训的本科生在该机构和那些参与与开普敦大学的合作努力。

Intellectual Merit:The PIs are requesting funds to acquire a suite of instruments for stable isotope (N) research, including a denitrifier-based, natural abundance isotope system, a tracer isotope system, and general purpose natural abundance peripherals for an existing mass spectrometer. Specific instruments requested include a Thermo Electron MAT 253 stable isotope mass spectrometer, a Thermo DeltaVAdvantage stable isotope mass spectrometer with peripherals, an EA peripheral for combustion-based isotope analysis, and a GasBench II carbon dioxide preparation and purification system. The proposed instrumentation would enable research efforts examining natural stable isotope abundances that include ocean biogeochemistry and paleoceanography, terrestrial biogeochemistry, carbon isotopes in Precambrian Earth history. Stable isotope tracer research would include nitrification, nitrogen fixation, and carbon partitioning during biostimulation. Broader Impacts:The PIs state that the proposed instrumentation would expand the research capabilities of the institution and specifically the Departments of Geosciences and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. The improvements to the denitrifier method will also serve to expand the capabilities of the ocean research community at large. Additionally, the proposed instrumentation will enable method development and provide training for undergraduate students at the institution and those participating in a collaborative effort with the University of Cape Town.