Acquisition of a Reaction Cell/Quadropole ICP-MS System

University Of South Florida, Tampa FL

Investigators

Abstract

0654214 Pichler This grant supports acquisition of a quadrupole inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) to support a range of research requiring high precision, low detection limit trace element analyses. The ICP-MS will be configured a liquid chromatography (LC) module to permit analysis of specific element valences. Faculty and students from the Departments of Geology, Geography, Environmental Science and Policy, Marine Science, Anthropology, Biology, and Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of South Florida (USF) will benefit from access to a state-of-the-art LC-ICP-MS for studies including : 1) geochemistry and toxicology of As and Se species in natural waters; 2) marine hydrothermal system chemical dynamics; 3) geochemistry and petrology of volcanic arc assemblages; 4) tephrachronology; and 5) elemental proxies of paleoenvironments. The ICP-MS system will support undergraduate and graduate education at USF, including new cross-disciplinary programs between Geology, Geography and Environmental Science & Policy through laboratory courses and student research. The instrument will support of ongoing and proposed Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site projects at USF, and in lab-based general science courses in the USF Honors College. A significant portion of the research that will be conducted using the ICP-MS will have direct applications to public environmental and health concerns.