Proposal

Narrative

As part of our efforts to provide STEM students with access to state-of-the-art instrumentation to enhance their problem-solving and analytical skills, technology funds ($80K) are sought for the acquisition of a new TLC/MS Advion Spectrometer. This instrument will help to prepare the next-generation workforce for our local biotechnology sector. Our students are currently using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) in their laboratory courses and in research projects. This old technique remains useful for monitoring the progress of chemical reactions; however, we propose to modernize student training by making available a TLC/MS spectrometer that combines both TLC with a mass spectrometer (MS). The TLC/MS instrument is an essential tool in many chemistry disciplines; however, its concept can only be taught on a theoretical level currently at FAU. Given the importance of this technique, we feel it is urgent that students learn it on an experiential level in the following courses: CHM4933/6380 – Organic Spectroscopy (20 stud/y). Students work through unknown molecules in their projects including real-world examples drawn from natural products. The TLC/MS instrument will enable the rapid generation of mass spectra to help each student to determine molecular weights, structural formulas, and the fragmentation pattern of their unknown compounds for structural determination. CHM4139L – Bioanalytical Instrumentation Lab is taken by over ~25 stud/semester. The new TLC/MS instrument will be exploited to develop an analytical method for determining the composition of ingredients within an over-the-counter analgesic tablet. CHM2211L – Organic Chemistry Lab (600 stud/y). The large cohort of students requires an efficient logistic. By offering a “walk-in” access to the TLC/MS instrument, students will characterize compounds in a high-throughput manner which will enrich their educational experience and their professional skills.

Facilities

None

Hardware Requirements

There are no additional hardware requirements.

Software Requirements

There are no additional software requirements.

Personnel Costs

There are no personnel costs; Existing personnel and our instrumentation specialist, Dr. F. Russell, will use the requested equipment. The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry will continue to support staffing with graduate teaching assistants as determined necessary.

Other Costs

None

Timeline

If this proposal is awarded, the requested equipment will be ordered immediately upon receipt of the funds. There are no special installation procedures, so the equipment will be used instantly.

Sustainability

The courses mentioned above will be conducted on a regular basis which will maintain cutting-edge training for our students. The current mass spectrometers in the department’s proteomics laboratory use electrospray ionization and linear ion trap technology to detect sample ions, which will be complemented by the APC ionization of this novel TLC/MS instrument. Dr. West will coordinate the introduction of TLC/MS technology in the proposed upper-level division courses CHM4933/CHM6380 and The TLC/MS lab component will be implemented within the Bioanalytical Instrumentation Lab (CHM 4139L) by our instrumentation specialist, Dr. Russell. DIS CHM4905 and Graduate Student Research. After the funded period, we will continue to offer an “OPEN” access to the Advion Expression CMS-S instrument to students active in DIS research and Honors program as well as our graduate students to facilitate their research projects and streamline their productivity. For example, in one project supervised by a faculty member in the Chemistry Department (Dr. Salvatore Lepore), undergraduate students working on the development of anti-epileptic compounds will analyze their products using the TLC/MS system. These analyses will fast-track their projects by diminishing the time required between chemical reactions to verify product formation and identities. The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry will pay for further warranty extensions and instrument servicing beyond the first year. All consumables to be used with this equipment will be paid for by the department and by individual PIs using the instrument routinely. The department has dedicated Dr. Russell, instrumentation specialist to oversee the training of new students and use this instrument in his course CHM 4139L to teach students how to exploit the Advion TLC/MS instrument in their research projects. The department will continue supporting staffing with graduate student teaching assistants as necessary.

Resource Matching

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry will pay for further warranty extensions beyond the first year as well as servicing the equipment. All consumables to be used with this equipment will be paid by the department for usage in courses mentioned above and by individual PIs that require the use of the instrument routinely. The equipment will be install for “open access” to our undergraduate and graduate students in a dedicated teaching lab for mass spectrometry where GC/MS instrument are already in use (PS-354).

Implementing Organization

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry will implement this project.