MRI: Acquisition of an accelerated solvent extractor (ASE) for undergraduate research and teaching at Pace University

该奖项由主要研究仪器项目和化学研究仪器项目支持。佩斯大学的Elmer-Rico Mojica教授及其同事赵华、Nigel Yarlett、Rita Upmacis和Jaime-Lee Rizzo获得了加速溶剂萃取器(ASE)。这种仪器可以在高温和高压的辅助下，从化合物混合物中提取感兴趣的物质，使各种物质更容易溶解。一旦这些物质被溶解，就用柱子将混合物分离。在柱子中，有一些物质与不同的组分以不同的方式相互作用，从而允许分离。由于温度和压力较高，该系统允许(很像高压锅)在分离过程中使用少量液体。这使得这些系统对环境友好，因为它们产生的废物很少。通常用于提取杀虫剂、除草剂、阻燃剂、药品中的活性成分、维生素、膳食补充剂、洗涤剂和纺织品。该仪器用于培训主办机构和纳瓦罗曼哈顿社区学院的学生进行研究。溶剂萃取器为许多代表性不足的学生提供服务，并促进STEM领域的留住。授予这种加速溶剂萃取器的目的是加强各级的研究和教育。它尤其影响到蜂胶等天然材料的特性及其作为抗菌剂和抗原生动物制剂的使用、有机微污染物的分析以及纽约市各种类型沉积物中药品和个人护理产品的存在。该仪器还用于调查市售茶叶、水果、蔬菜、蜂蜜和牛奶中是否存在污染物和农药残留，并用于改进非法药物分析中的样品制备方法。此外，它还有利于通过计算方法设计的分子印迹干凝胶材料的开发。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award is supported by the Major Research Instrumentation and the Chemistry Research Instrumentation programs. Professor Elmer-Rico Mojica from Pace University and colleagues Zhaohua Dai, Nigel Yarlett, Rita Upmacis and Jaime-Lee Rizzo have acquired an accelerated solvent extractor (ASE). This instrument allows extraction of substance of interest from mixtures of compounds with the aid of high temperatures and high pressures that make the various substances more soluble. Once the materials are dissolved, the mixtures are separated with the use of columns. In the column, there are substances that interact differently with the various components, thus allowing separation. Because of the high temperature and pressures, the system allows (much like a pressure cooker) the use of small volumes of liquids in the separation. This makes these systems environmentally friendly since they produce little waste. Common applications are in extraction of pesticides, herbicides, flame retardants, active ingredients in medicines, vitamins, dietary supplements, detergents and textiles. The instrument is used to train students in research at the host institution and the Navarro Borough Manhattan Community College. The solvent extractor serves many underrepresented students and facilitates retention in STEM fields.The award of this accelerated solvent extractor is aimed at enhancing research and education at all levels. It especially impacts the characterization of natural materials, such as bee propolis, and their use as antimicrobial and antiprotozoal agents, the analyses of organic micropollutants and the presence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in various types of sediments from New York City. The instrument is also used for investigating the presence of pollutants and pesticide residues in commercial tea samples, fruits, vegetables, honey and milk and for improving the sample preparation methods in the analysis of illicit drugs. In addition, it benefits the development of molecular imprinted xerogels materials designed by computational methods.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.