Acquisition of a Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer to Support Training and Research at Howard University

Howard University, Washington DC

Investigators

Abstract

With this award from the Chemical Research Instrumentation and Facilities (CRIF) Program, the Department of Chemistry at Howard University will acquire a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GC/MS). This equipment will enhance research in a variety of areas including a) the synthesis and characterization of enaminones, a class of anticonvulsant agents; b) bacterial production of biodegradable plastics; c) synthesis and characterization of surface active agents from plant metabolites; d) synthesis of calixarenes and study of their molecular recognition properties; and e) new non-metallocene olefin polymerization catalysts; and f) behavior of aerosols and particulates in the environment. Gas chromatography 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 and training at Howard University.