An ultracentrifuge for advancing research on characterization and remediation of emerging environmental pollutants and on green chemistry

需要一种超高速离心机（高速离心机），以实现与环境工程、绿色化学和纳米技术领域前沿研究相关的纳米颗粒和生物大分子的创新表征。纳米颗粒和生物分子（如核酸）难以从环境样品和各种水溶液中分离，因为它们不会沉降。超浓缩技术将提供先进的能力，从各种原始或污染的环境样品和实验生物反应器中分离这些纳米颗粒和核酸。这些仪器将支持使用我们实验室的尖端分析仪器对这些胶体进行分析，这些仪器是从CFI和NSERC赠款中获得的。支持的研究非常及时和重要，涉及（一）评估在人类、野生动物和环境中广泛检测到的持久性和有毒多氟烷基有机化学品对环境和健康的影响，（二）从消费品释放到水生系统中的金属纳米颗粒的环境风险。(iii)该仪器将用于四个NSERC发现计划，以及由NSERC战略项目赠款，合作研究和开发赠款以及国际研究赠款资助的四个申请人的5个大型多研究者项目。这些设备将在未来5年内立即用于培训32名研究生。该项目将大大提高学生的培训和研究质量，以维持未来加拿大劳动力在环境工程、绿色化学和纳米技术领域的竞争力。

An ultracentrifuge (high speed centrifuge) to enable innovative characterization of nanoparticles and biomacromolecules relating to cutting-edge research in the field of environmental engineering, green chemistry and nanotechnology is requested. Nanoparticles and biomolecules such as nucleic acids are challenging to separate from environmental samples and various aqueous solutions because they do not settle out. The ultracentrifuge will provide advanced capability to isolate these nanoparticles and nucleic acids from various pristine or contaminated environmental samples and from experimental bioreactors. The instruments will support analysis of such colloids using cutting-edge analytical instruments in our laboratories obtained from CFI and NSERC grants. The research to be supported is extremely timely and significant, and involves (i) the assessment of environmental and health implications of persistent and toxic polyfluoroalkyl organic chemicals that have been widely detected in humans, wildlife and the environment, (ii) the environmental risks of metal nanoparticles released from consumer goods into aquatic systems. (iii) the development of benign nanomaterials for water treatment and for promoting agriculture, and (iv) recovery of nutrient and high value chemicals from biological wastewater treatment processes.The instrument will be used for four NSERC Discovery programs, and for 5 large multi-investigator projects of the four applicants funded by NSERC Strategic Project Grants, Collaborative Research and Development Grants, as well as international research grants. The equipment will be used to immediately train 32 graduate students in the next 5 years. The ultracentrifuge will substantially enhance the training and quality of research of students to sustain the competitiveness of future Canadian workforce in the fields of environmental engineering, green chemistry, and nanotechnology.