Acquisition of Instrumentation for Organic Molecular Geochemistry Research and Training at the University of Texas-Austin

0949259 Shanahan该奖项资助购买一台带有馏分收集器的高效液相色谱质谱仪（HPLC-MS），用于识别、量化和分离地质基质中的有机化合物。 拟议的收购将补充已经使用的气相色谱（GC）和GC同位素比质谱（GC-IRMS）仪器。它将允许分析低挥发性，非GC-顺从的化合物。馏分收集器将允许PI纯化和分离化合物，然后可以进行碳同位素分析。该仪器将用于利用与乙醚结合的古细菌和细菌脂质，从沉积物档案中重建过去陆地、湖泊和海洋的温度;分离和纯化目标“生物标志”化合物，以便利用自然丰度或标记进行稳定同位素分析，从而更好地了解地球化学循环;以及在不同的沉积环境中使用化合物-特定的放射性碳测年法，这将对碳循环和过去沉积物的年龄提供新的限制。提出的研究主题是使用化合物特异性生物标志物来约束和解释地质数据。使用HPLC-MS将为无法通过GC或其他更标准的技术测量的“新”生物标志物组提供分析范围。将使用馏分收集器开发纯化和分离程序，这将大大减少分析劳动力。该工具将由几个PI和整个部门共享。该仪器将扩大若干学科的能力。目前的方案是为吸引本科生和弱势学生而设立的。两个基于实验室的课程也将直接受益。PI将保留对仪器的全面监督。质谱设施经理将负责日常安排。每年的维护和消耗品费用将由每份样品费用支付。试点研究和方法开发将根据具体情况安排。PI拥有两年的全职技术支持。***

0949259ShanahanThis award funds acquisition of a high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometer (HPLC-MS) with a fraction collector to identify, quantify and isolate organic compounds for geologic matrices. The proposed acquisition will complement gas chromatographic (GC) and GC-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS) instrumentation already in use. It will allow analyzing low volatility, non-GC-amenable compounds. The fraction collector will allow the PIs to purify and isolate compounds which can then be subjected to carbon isotope analysis. The instrumentation will be used for reconstructing past terrestrial, lacustrine and marine temperatures from sediment archives using ether-bound archaeal and bacterial lipids; isolating and purifying target "biomarker" compounds for stable isotope analysis using natural abundance or labeling to better understand biogeochemical cycling; and assessing organic material provenance and age in a varied depositional settings using compound-specific radiocarbon dating which will provide new constraints on the carbon cycle and the age of past sediment deposits. The underlying theme to research proposed is using compound-specific biomarkers to constrain and interpret geological data. Using HPLC-MS will provide analytical range to "new" groups of biomarkers not able to be measured by GC or other more standard techniques. Purification and isolation procedures will be developed using the fraction collector which will greatly reduce analytical labor. The instrument will be shared by several PIs and across the Department. The instrument will expand capabilities in several disciplines. Current programs are established for attracting undergraduates and disadvantaged students. Two lab-based courses will also directly benefit. The PI will retain overall supervision of the instrument. A mass spectrometry facility manager will be responsible for day-to-day scheduling. Annual maintenance and consumables costs will covered by per sample fees. Pilot studies and method(s) development will be scheduled on a case-by-case basis. The PI has two years of full-time technician support. ***