MRI: ACQUISITION OF AN INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA MASS SPECTROMETER (ICP-MS) FOR ECOLOGICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND ECOSYSTEM-LEVEL RESEARCH

维拉诺瓦大学获得了一项重大研究仪器奖，以获得用于生态，环境和生态系统级研究的电感耦合等离子体质谱仪（ICP-MS）系统。维拉诺瓦大学和该区域其他机构的许多研究人员将使用这种仪器。研究人员将利用ICP-MS系统来1）解决现有和过时仪器所带来的当前研究限制，2）获得对一些关键环境问题的实质性新理解，3）通过使仪器广泛用于大学和整个地区来扩大研究能力，以及4）提高高中，本科，研究生教育和通过独立研究和课程获得尖端仪器。该ICP-MS系统将支持本科生和研究生的研究，促进研究培训和学生教育，为维拉诺瓦提供卓越的学生研究机会的目标做出贡献。维拉诺瓦主要是一所本科院校，成功地提高了代表性不足群体的包容性（多元文化学生占25%），收购ICP-MS将扩大代表性不足群体在研究中的参与。在这个MRI补助金的研究人员教主要在本科水平，并有指导独立的本科生研究的良好记录。因此，收购这台ICP-MS将使下一代科学家接触到尖端的研究和仪器，并提高我们的全球竞争力。具有超高基质引入功能的高分辨率Agilent 7900 ICP-MS系统具有极低的检测限，可以在消化后对各种液体或固体样品的元素组成进行定量分析，显著扩大研究人员在维拉诺瓦大学跨学科小组的研究能力。低检测限、检测到的元素组（从Li-6到U-238）和响应的线性范围（超过11个数量级）加上几乎同时的多元素定量有效地解决了现有的研究限制。将使用ICP-MS系统的具体研究项目包括：1）分析天然气开采的环境影响，2）评估阿萨巴斯卡油砂地区的污染，3）评估沼泽土壤中的金属污染历史和流动性，4）在加德满都山谷中使用地衣作为生物监测器评估大气污染，5）确定用于固氮的微量营养素的可用性，6）通过珊瑚中的微量元素信号检测环境变化，7）调查物种范围变化如何影响金属，8）评估土地使用对溪流水质和水生动物污染物负荷的影响，9）确定影响近岸珊瑚礁的污染物负荷，10）评估雨水控制措施，和11）确定固体氧化物燃料电池操作中的催化剂组成。ICP-MS是所有这些项目的重要工具，该仪器的获得为许多紧迫的环境问题提供了重要的见解。

A Major Research Instrumentation award is made to Villanova University for the acquisition of an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) system for ecological, environmental, and ecosystems-level research. This instrumentation will be used by numerous researchers at Villanova University and at other institutions in the region. Researchers will utilize the ICP-MS system to 1) resolve current research limitations imposed by existing and obsolete instrumentation, 2) gain substantial new understanding of a number of critical environmental issues, 3) expand research capabilities by making the instrument widely available for use within the university and across the region, and 4) enhance high- school, undergraduate, and graduate education and access to cutting-edge instrumentation through independent research and coursework. This ICP-MS system will support undergraduate and graduate research and promote research training and student education, contributing to Villanova's goal of providing exceptional student research opportunities. Villanova is a primarily undergraduate institution and has succeeded in improving inclusivity of underrepresented groups (with a multicultural student body at 25%), and acquisition of the ICP-MS will broaden the participation of underrepresented groups in research. The researchers on this MRI grant teach primarily at the undergraduate level and have strong records of mentoring independent undergraduate research. Therefore, acquisition of this ICP-MS will expose the next the generation of scientists to cutting-edge research and instrumentation and increase our global competiveness.The high resolution Agilent 7900 ICP-MS system with Ultra High Matrix Introduction has exceptionally low detection limits and allows for quantitative analysis of elemental composition from a wide array of liquid or solid samples following digestion, significantly expanding the research capabilities of the interdisciplinary group of researchers at Villanova University. The low detection limits, the suite of elements detected (from Li-6 to U-238), and the linear range of response (over 11 orders of magnitude) coupled with near- simultaneous multiple element quantification effectively resolves existing research limitations. Specific research projects that will utilize the ICP-MS system include: 1) analysis of the environmental impacts of natural gas extraction, 2) evaluation of pollution in the Athabasca Oil Sands region, 3) evaluation of metal pollution histories and mobility in marsh soils, 4) assessing atmospheric pollution using lichens as biomonitors in the Kathmandu Valley, 5) determination of the availability of micronutrients for nitrogen- fixation, 6) detecting environmental change through trace element signals in corals, 7) investigating how species range shifts impact metals, 8) evaluating impacts of land use on stream water quality and aquatic animal contaminant loads, 9) determining contaminant loads affecting near-shore coral reefs, 10) assessment of storm water control measures, and 11) determining catalyst composition in solid oxide fuel cells operations. ICP-MS is an essential tool for all of these projects, and the acquisition of the instrument provides critical insight on a number of pressing environmental issues.