A TGA-FTIR instrument for research on energy and environment

污染物的排放给人类健康、气候和可持续发展带来了巨大的风险。利用各种清洁技术，如吸附，以减少工业向环境排放的污染物。在我们的研究中，我们研究了包括活性碳、沸石、聚合物和金属有机骨架(MOF)在内的吸附材料去除空气中有害化合物的性能和寿命。吸附剂的表面化学对其容量和使用寿命有很大影响，值得深入研究。吸附过程通常伴随着再生过程，以恢复吸附剂的容量；然而，许多污染物的不可逆吸附阻碍了完全再生，降低了吸附容量，并缩短了吸附剂的使用寿命。*在这份提案中，我们申请资金购买最先进的热重分析仪(TGA)-傅立叶变换红外(FTIR)联用系统，使我们能够研究材料的降解机理，并识别材料受热时释放的气体。利用联用系统的独特能力，我们的团队将能够发现能够导致更高效和更持久的吸附剂开发的领域。以下列出了一些需要使用TGA-FTIR的领域：*1.开发用于控制有机蒸汽排放的碳基、聚合物和沸石吸附剂*2.MOF的特性在吸附、电阻和微波加热再生中的作用*3.沥青、沥青泡沫和改性沥青的热处理*4.用于纳米提取和多组分微量分析的活性表面纳米液滴*5.开发用于提高石油回收的热稳定性聚合物膜*这些研究项目对加拿大具有战略意义，因为它们减少了工业活动对空气和水质的影响减少温室气体排放，提供更清洁的能源，推进废物转化为能源和石油回收技术。此外，对于环境组织以及阿尔伯塔大学许多工程和科学学科的研究人员来说，它将是一个非常有用的工具。*所要求的TGA-FTIR对于我们继续这些研究项目是必不可少的，因为它将提供对材料化学和热行为以及固体表面发生的过程的基本了解。考虑到TGA-FTIR分析的持续时间及其在我们研究中的重要性，预计该仪器将在全年持续运行。使用拟议的工具将显著提高我们进行创新研究的能力，培训具有宝贵技术技能的HQP，并吸引行业合作伙伴。

Emissions of pollutants are great risks to human health, climate, and sustainable development. Various cleaning technologies such as adsorption are utilized to reduce the emission of pollutants from industries into the environment. In our research, we study the performance and lifetime of adsorbent materials including activated carbon, zeolite, polymer, and metal-organic framework (MOF) to remove harmful compounds from air. The surface chemistry of an adsorbent has a great influence on its capacity and lifetime, thus deserving detailed research. The adsorption process is commonly followed by a regeneration process to bring back the capacity of the adsorbent; however, irreversible adsorption of many pollutants prevents complete regeneration, decreases the adsorption capacity, and shortens adsorbent's service life. ******In this proposal, we are requesting funds to purchase a state-of-the-art Thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA)-Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) hyphenated system that enables us to study the degradation mechanism of materials and to identify the released gases as material is heated. Using the unique capabilities of the hyphenated system, our team will be able to discover areas that can lead to development of more efficient and durable adsorbents. Some of the areas that require the use of the TGA-FTIR are listed below:***1. Developing carbon-based, polymer, and zeolite adsorbents for control of organic vapour emissions***2. Role of MOFs' characteristics in adsorption and resistive and microwave heating regeneration ***3. Thermal treatment of bitumen, bitumen froth, and upgraded bitumen***4. Reactive surface nanodroplets for nanoextraction and microanalysis of multiple components***5. Development of thermally stable polymeric membranes for enhanced oil recovery******These research projects are of strategic importance to Canada since they lessen air and water quality impacts of industrial activities, reduce emission of greenhouse gases, provide cleaner energy sources, and advance waste-to-energy and oil recovery technologies. Furthermore, it will be an extremely useful tool for environmental groups as well as to researchers in many engineering and science disciplines at the University of Alberta.******The requested TGA-FTIR is essential for us to continue these research projects since it will provide fundamental understandings of materials chemistry and thermal behavior, as well as processes occurring on the surface of solids. Considering the duration of TGA-FTIR analysis and its importance in our research, it is expected that the instrument will be operational continuously throughout the year. Access to the proposed instrument will significantly improve our ability to conduct innovative research, train HQPs with valuable technical skills, and attract industrial partners.