MRI: Acquisition of a GCMS to enhance undergraduate research training in the natural sciences at Virginia Wesleyan College

通过主要研究仪器项目（MRI）和化学研究仪器和设施项目（CRIF）的资助，弗吉尼亚卫斯理学院将获得一台气相色谱和质谱分析仪（GC/MS）。气相色谱是一种强大的技术，可以将复杂的混合物分离成单独的成分，以便进一步鉴定。该分析将在质谱仪中进行，其中分离的组分被注入以确定其质量以帮助表征。光谱仪将这些组分电离成一个母离子和更小的碎片离子，并测量它们的质量。这种高度灵敏的技术可以检测和确定复杂混合物中的分子结构。该仪器将被本科生用于推进他们的研究项目，并由学生在实验课程中使用现代仪器。它将为他们的技术职业和高级教育机会做好准备。该提案旨在加强研究和教育，特别是在以下领域：(a)调查天然产品（特别是海绵毒素）在药物中可能使用的潜力；(b)评估制药原料开发的绿色化学实践；(c)评价和表征用作传感器的金属离子配位材料；(d)评估减少环境污染措施的成效；(e)通过研究植物固醇途径来研究植物进化。

With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation program (MRI) and the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities program (CRIF), Virginia Wesleyan College will acquire a gas-chromatagraph and mass spectrometer analyzer (GC/MS). Gas chromatagraphy is a powerful technique employed to separate complex mixtures into individual components for further identification. This analysis will be performed in the mass spectometer where the separated components are injected for determination of their masses to aid characterization. The spectometer ionizes the components into a parent ion and smaller fragment ions and measures each of their masses. This highly sensitive technique allows detection and determination of the structure of the molecules in a complex mixture. The instrument will be used by undergraduate research students to advance their research projects and by students in laboratory courses using modern instrumentation. It will prepare them for technical careers and advanced educational opportunities. The proposal is aimed at enhancing research and education especially in areas such as (a) investigating the potential of natural products (specifically sea sponge toxins) for possible use in pharmaceuticals; (b) evaluating green chemistry practices for the development of pharmaceutical feedstocks; (c) evaluating and characterizing metal ion coordination materials for use as sensors; (d) evaluating the effectiveness of environmental pollution reduction measures; and (e) investigating plant evolution through the examination of the plant sterol pathway.