Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
University of British Columbia
$74,456.00
A membrane inlet mass spectrometer for dissolved gas analysis in natural waters
FY 2006-07
Summary
The concentration of dissolved gases in natural waters provides information on a variety of biological, chemical, and physical processes in the environment. One of the most powerful, yet under utilized methods for environmental gas analysis is based on membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS). This technique enables many different gases and isotopes to be analyzed simultaneously in real-time, with very little effort. Individual measurements are made continuously so that data can be collected with very high frequency. The high frequency analysis provides very detailed information on the spatial distribution of gases in aquatic systems. Over the past two years, we have developed a MIMS method for field-based gas measurements. Using this method, we have been able to observe unprecedented variability in the distribution of many oceanic gases, including O2, and CO2. However, our current instrument lacks the necessary sensitivity to measure a number of trace gas species which exist in very low concentrations. Moreover, our expanding research programs have put a very large demand on this instrument, and our research is now limited by its availability. We are thus requesting funds to purchase a second, more powerful MIMS that can be dedicated for field-based analysis. Collectively, our group will apply the new instrument to a variety of important research questions in oceanography, hydrogeology, and microbial ecology. Research applications include (but are not limited to) examining the distribution of trace gases and microbial community structure in the oceans, and studying the cycling and transport of biogenic gases in rivers, and ground water. The proposed instrument will be the only one of its kind in Canada, and will provide unique research opportunities for a number of graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. It is expected that the instrument will be of great practical use for academic and industrial scientists studying gas distributions in natural waters. This topic is highly relevant to questions of water management, waste remediation and climate change.
Program
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Recipient
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
345565-2007
Name nom
Tortell, Philippe
Department département
Earth and Ocean Sciences
Organization id
2
Institution établissement
University of British Columbia
Province en
British Columbia
Province fr
Colombie-Britannique
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2006
Competition year année de concours
2007
Award amount
74456
Program id
EQPEQ
Program name en
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche - catégorie 1 (<150 000$)
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
9
Committee name en
Environmental Earth Sciences
Committee name fr
Sc. de la Terre : environ.
Area of application code
402
Area of application group en
Environment
Area of application group fr
Environnement
Area of application en
Oceans, seas and estuaries
Area of application fr
Océans, mers et estuaires
Research subject code
4603
Research subject group en
Oceanography
Research subject group fr
Océanographie
Research subject en
Chemical oceanography
Research subject fr
Océanographie chimique
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
A membrane inlet mass spectrometer for dissolved gas analysis in natural waters
Keyword
NA
Application summary
The concentration of dissolved gases in natural waters provides information on a variety of biological, chemical, and physical processes in the environment. One of the most powerful, yet under utilized methods for environmental gas analysis is based on membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS). This technique enables many different gases and isotopes to be analyzed simultaneously in real-time, with very little effort. Individual measurements are made continuously so that data can be collected with very high frequency. The high frequency analysis provides very detailed information on the spatial distribution of gases in aquatic systems. Over the past two years, we have developed a MIMS method for field-based gas measurements. Using this method, we have been able to observe unprecedented variability in the distribution of many oceanic gases, including O2, and CO2. However, our current instrument lacks the necessary sensitivity to measure a number of trace gas species which exist in very low concentrations. Moreover, our expanding research programs have put a very large demand on this instrument, and our research is now limited by its availability. We are thus requesting funds to purchase a second, more powerful MIMS that can be dedicated for field-based analysis. Collectively, our group will apply the new instrument to a variety of important research questions in oceanography, hydrogeology, and microbial ecology. Research applications include (but are not limited to) examining the distribution of trace gases and microbial community structure in the oceans, and studying the cycling and transport of biogenic gases in rivers, and ground water. The proposed instrument will be the only one of its kind in Canada, and will provide unique research opportunities for a number of graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. It is expected that the instrument will be of great practical use for academic and industrial scientists studying gas distributions in natural waters. This topic is highly relevant to questions of water management, waste remediation and climate change.
