MRI: Acquisition of Instrumentation to Investigate the Interface of Chemistry, Biology, and the Environment

Eastern Oregon University, La Grande OR

Investigators

Abstract

With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program, the Department of Chemistry at Eastern Oregon State College will acquire an ion-trap gas chromatograph with mass spectrometric detection. This equipment will enhance research in a number of areas including a) development of analytical techniques to determine changes in fatty acid composition in fish during smolting; b) determination of the effects due to heat and light exposure on sex pheromones used by the US Forest Service; c) weed ecology, especially allelopathy; and d) isolation and structural eludication of biologically active naturally occurring compounds from plant and invertebrate sources. This equipment will also be used in advanced undergraduate courses. Gas chromatograph with mass spectrometric detection (GC-MS) is an extremely powerful technique used for the separation and analysis of complex mixtures. This instrument will substantially strengthen scientific research within the multidisciplinary program at Eastern Oregon State College and will have a significant impact in biochemistry and environmental chemistry.