In the 1992 comedy classic My Cousin Vinny, a witness for the prosecution stated that he took samples of rubber residue and analyzed it with a "Hewlett-Packard 5710-A dual-column gas chromatograph with flame analyzation detectors." Move forward 16 years, and Park University chemistry students are now getting the opportunity to do similar experiments, but with much more modern equipment.
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| Chemistry students Ian Pearce, a junior majoring in chemistry, left, and Lisa Kanoy, a junior majoring in biology, use the new gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. |
Park's chemistry program, within the Department of Natural and Physical Sciences, recently acquired a Varian Saturn 210 Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer. This instrument is actually two coupled independent techniques which first separate a liquid or gaseous mixture into individual parts (gas chromatography) and the individual parts are analyzed and identified by the mass spectrometry portion.
Some applications of this technique include the areas of forensic science, food, beverage and perfume science, environmental monitoring and cleanup, explosives detection and security, and even astrochemistry. According to Donna Howell, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry, one common application of this tool is analysis of trace components of explosives at airport security checkpoints. Another is identification of narcotics, both from biological fluids and from raw materials.
Howell said that one of the most attractive recruitment tools for students and prospective faculty to chemistry programs is state-of-the-art instrumentation -- in particular, chemistry students will receive hands-on experience on this equipment.
"This is one of the most important pieces of instrumentation employers like to see that applicants know how to use," she said. "Our chemistry students will get hands-on experience using it in at least three courses, which is highly unusual for undergraduates. Many larger schools don’t allow undergraduates as a whole class to use this level of instrumentation.
"The American Chemical Society lists instrumental analysis using both gas chromatography and mass spectrometry as critical work functions for a chemical technician in industrial, pharmaceutical and governmental laboratory settings," Howell added. "For our graduates to be competitive in the workforce or in postgraduate programs, hands-on experience with high-quality instrumentation is a necessity."
Howell said that use of the new instrument in coursework will be extensive. It has already been incorporated into the organic chemistry laboratory courses and will be incorporated into the instrumental analysis course, and possibly the biochemistry lab in the near future. The Natural and Physical Sciences faculty are using the instrument in student and faculty research projects, providing students with even more hands-on opportunities with equipment. Data collected from this instrument will also be presented at regional and national scientific meetings, and published. As a further complement to teaching applications, the GCMS is a valuable instrument for synthetic and analytical research projects. An increased instrumental infrastructure also aids in securing external funding from grant sources.
Members of Park University's chemistry faculty include Howell, Greg Claycomb, Ph.D., adjunct instructor of chemistry, and David Yates, science lab coordinator/chemical hygiene officer.
