Grant: Research Tools and Instruments
Trent University
$137,214.00
Enabling world-leading mass spectrometry for environmental science
FY 2023-24
Summary
Organic matter is one of the largest and most reactive stores of carbon on Earth. The composition of organic matter determines if it persists in the environment, so is critical for efforts to reduce atmospheric carbon concentrations and sustain a habitable climate. Organic matter also influences other benefits that nature provides to people, such as productive food webs and regulating temperature and contaminant availability. Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) is the state-of-the-art approach to characterise the molecular-level composition of organic matter and is essential for NSERC-funded research in ecosystem health and biogeochemistry undertaken at Trent and across Canada. This proposal seeks to upgrade the obsolete and failing $1.9 million Bruker Solarix 7T FT-ICR MS located at Trent University's Water Quality Centre through a new operating systems and autosampler. The Trent FT-ICR MS is only the 3rd instrument of its kind in Canada, only one in Eastern Canada, and only one supporting users in the environmental sciences with dedicated technical staff. However, the computer used to control the FT-ICR MS runs an obsolete operating system that is highly unstable and will soon entirely stop working, so needs urgent replacement. As part of this upgrade, we seek to add an autosampler that is required for the large sample sizes associated with environmental science and to maximise equitable access for all potential users. Without an autosampler, our current research is limited to smaller-scale, inferior science or using poor-resolution instruments that do have autosamplers. Together, this new equipment upgrade will equip NSERC-funded highly qualified personnel at Trent and across Canada with hands-on training to meet a critical skills shortage in emerging fields like environmental metabolomics. The research enabled by this equipment will ultimately generate knowledge to inform our management of the natural environment, including the global carbon cycle and climate resilience.
Program
Research Tools and Instruments
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
RTI-2024-00013
Name nom
Tanentzap, Andrew
Department département
School of the Environment
Organization id
32
Institution établissement
Trent University
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2023
Competition year année de concours
2024
Award amount
137214
Program id
RTI
Program name en
Research Tools and Instruments
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche
Group en
DISCOVERY RESEARCH
Group fr
RECHERCHE AXÉE SUR LA DÉCOUVERTE
Committee code
1603
Committee name en
Environmental Sciences (RTI)
Committee name fr
Sciences environnementales (OIR)
Area of application code
400
Area of application group en
Environment
Area of application group fr
Environnement
Area of application en
Environment
Area of application fr
Environnement
Research subject code
4200
Research subject group en
Geochemistry and geochronology
Research subject group fr
Geochemistry and geochronology
Research subject en
Géochimie et géochronologie
Research subject fr
Géochimie et géochronologie
Application title
Enabling world-leading mass spectrometry for environmental science
Keyword
boreal; carbon cycling; climate change; dissolved organic matter; ecosystem function; environmental chemistry; forests; lakes; microbial ecology; soils
Application summary
Organic matter is one of the largest and most reactive stores of carbon on Earth. The composition of organic matter determines if it persists in the environment, so is critical for efforts to reduce atmospheric carbon concentrations and sustain a habitable climate. Organic matter also influences other benefits that nature provides to people, such as productive food webs and regulating temperature and contaminant availability. Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) is the state-of-the-art approach to characterise the molecular-level composition of organic matter and is essential for NSERC-funded research in ecosystem health and biogeochemistry undertaken at Trent and across Canada. This proposal seeks to upgrade the obsolete and failing $1.9 million Bruker Solarix 7T FT-ICR MS located at Trent University's Water Quality Centre through a new operating systems and autosampler. The Trent FT-ICR MS is only the 3rd instrument of its kind in Canada, only one in Eastern Canada, and only one supporting users in the environmental sciences with dedicated technical staff. However, the computer used to control the FT-ICR MS runs an obsolete operating system that is highly unstable and will soon entirely stop working, so needs urgent replacement. As part of this upgrade, we seek to add an autosampler that is required for the large sample sizes associated with environmental science and to maximise equitable access for all potential users. Without an autosampler, our current research is limited to smaller-scale, inferior science or using poor-resolution instruments that do have autosamplers. Together, this new equipment upgrade will equip NSERC-funded highly qualified personnel at Trent and across Canada with hands-on training to meet a critical skills shortage in emerging fields like environmental metabolomics. The research enabled by this equipment will ultimately generate knowledge to inform our management of the natural environment, including the global carbon cycle and climate resilience.
