MRI: Acquisition of a Powder X-Ray Diffractometer for Research and Research Training at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

这项重大研究仪器(MRI)计划赠款将支持购买粉末X射线衍射仪(PXRD)，这将允许识别和表征固体材料，如矿物和建筑材料。X射线衍射仪是工业和科研中常用的一种技术。布鲁姆斯堡大学理科本科生包括许多第一代和/或经济困难的学生；获得这种仪器将使教师除了在学术课程中进行实验室练习外，还有机会进行由教师赞助的研究和研究培训。这类经验对于理科毕业生在申请研究生院或行业职位时是必不可少的。与该机构现有的设施相结合，PXRD是朝着在目前分析设施有限的地区发展材料表征中心迈出的重要一步。获得并培训如何使用该仪器将促进学生的专业发展，并将支持研究。PXRD应用于各种研究，包括：1)测定怀俄明州一个矿床中复杂稀土矿石的矿物学，以了解矿床开发对环境和经济的影响。稀土元素是现代电子产品不可缺少的资源。它们自然地出现在少数几个经济品位的地方，即使这样，它们也是在矿物学上复杂的矿床中找到的，对工艺提出了挑战。怀俄明州的Bear Lodge矿藏是一个丰富但未开发的矿藏。为了在成本方面优化选矿和限制采矿对环境的影响，有必要将PXRD与自动化矿物学分析和其他方法结合使用。2)对不同种类的石膏状矿物进行分类，以帮助评估内华达州混合土地利用地区的人类健康风险。蜂窝状矿物质不一定是人为的，也会对健康造成危害。内华达州南部有许多岩石单元，它们的潜在危险矿物纤维被侵蚀所动员。在野外测绘过程中获得的这些岩石的样品最好用X射线衍射仪进行评估，以确定纤维的形态。石棉是一个术语，包括许多习惯相似的矿物质，对健康的潜在影响可能会因具体类型而有所不同。3)区分宾夕法尼亚州中部煤矿废渣中可溶和不可溶的重金属矿物，以评估水质影响。过去和现在的煤矿开采已经导致宾夕法尼亚州部分地区的土壤受到严重的重金属污染。这些元素的生物可利用性，如铅，是这些地区居民的主要健康问题。使用X射线荧光X射线衍射仪，可以根据污染物在水溶性矿物相中的比例来评估风险。简单的化学分析可以确定样品中的铅，但PXRD是确定铅(和其他感兴趣的元素)的潜在移动性所必需的。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 Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program grant will support acquisition of a powder X-ray diffractometer (PXRD) that will allow for the identification and characterization of solid materials such as minerals and building materials. X-ray diffractometry is a technique common in industry and research. Undergraduate science students at Bloomsburg University include many of first-generation and/or economically disadvantaged students; access to such an instrument will allow for opportunities in faculty-sponsored research and research training in addition to laboratory exercises within an academic course. This type of experience is essential for science graduates when applying for positions in graduate school or industry. Combined with existing facilities at the institution, a PXRD is a major step towards developing a center for materials characterization in a region with currently limited analytical facilities. Access and training on how to use this instrument will enhance student professional development and will support research.The PXRD has applications to a variety of research, including: 1) Determination of mineralogy in complex rare earth ores from a deposit in Wyoming to understand environmental and economic impacts of deposit development. Rare earth elements are essential resources for modern electronics. They are naturally found in few places at economic grades, and even then, they are in mineralogically complex deposits that are challenging to processes. The Bear Lodge deposit in Wyoming is a rich, but undeveloped deposit. PXRD use in concert with automated mineralogical analysis and other methods is necessary to optimize mineral processing in cost terms and limit environmental impacts of mining. 2) Classification of different varieties of asbestiform minerals in order to help gauge human health risk in mixed land use areas of Nevada. Asbestiform minerals need not be anthropogenic in order to be a health hazard. Southern Nevada has many rock units with potentially hazardous mineral fibers mobilized by erosion. Samples of these rocks obtained during field mapping are best assessed by PXRD in order to determine the speciation of the fibers. 'Asbestos' is a term than encompasses many minerals with similar habits and potential health impacts can vary depending on exact type. 3) Differentiation of soluble versus insoluble heavy metal-bearing minerals in coal mine waste in central Pennsylvania to assess water quality impacts. Past and current coal mining has resulted in significant heavy metal contamination of soils in parts of Pennsylvania. The bioavailability of these elements, such as lead, is a major health concern to residents of these regions. Use of PXRD with X-ray fluorescence allows for the risk to be assesses in terms of the proportion of contaminants residing in water-soluble mineral phases. Simple chemical analysis can identify lead in a sample, but PXRD is necessary to determine the potential mobility of lead (and other elements of interest).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.