Gas Chromatograph - Mass Spectrometer for Molecular Biogeochemistry of Soil Organic Matter

需要气相色谱-质谱联用仪（GC-MS）来支持环境科学的新研究。GC-MS系统将用于测量和监测土壤、沉积物和水中的有机物化合物，以更好地了解环境变化如何改变这些环境中重要元素（如碳和氮）的循环。该仪器还将用于研究亚致死污染物如何改变土壤和水中关键生物的代谢（环境代谢组学）。代谢组学是一种很有前途的检测环境恶化早期预警信号的新方法。所要求的GC-MS是这些研究项目非常理想的工具，因为它非常敏感，可以检测和定量超低水平的化合物，也可用于鉴定以前未发现（未知）的化合物。该仪器用途广泛，可用于测量具有不同化学结构的各种化合物。气相色谱-质谱是环境化学中广泛使用的工具，也将用于培养本科生和研究生的前沿环境监测方法。因此，下一代环境科学家将具备分子水平分析的专业知识。因此，研究设备将支持新的培训倡议以及旨在提高对环境健康的基本认识和确保加拿大生态系统的长期可持续性的开创性研究。

A gas chromatograph - mass spectrometer (GC-MS) is requested to support novel research in environmental science. The GC-MS system will be used to measure and monitor organic matter compounds in soil, sediment, and water to better understand how environmental change may alter the cycling of important elements, such as carbon and nitrogen in these environments. The instrument will also be used to study how sub-lethal contaminants alter the metabolism of keystone organisms in soil and water (environmental metabolomics). Metabolomics is a promising new approach to detect early warning signs of environmental deterioration. The requested GC-MS is a highly desirable tool for these research programs because it is very sensitive and can detect and quantify compounds at ultra-low levels and also be used to identify previously undiscovered (unknown) compounds. This instrument is also highly versatile and can be used to measure a variety of compounds with varying chemical structure. The GC-MS, which is a widely used tool in environmental chemistry, will also be used to train undergraduate and graduate students in cutting-edge methods for environmental monitoring. As such, the next generation of environmental scientists will be equipped with expertise in molecular-level analysis. The research equipment will therefore support novel training initiatives as well as pioneering research which aims to improve the fundamental understanding of environmental health and ensure the long-term sustainability of Canada's ecosystems.