This grant will enable the purchase of a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer for use as an HPLC detector. This instrument (FTIR-HPLC) will allow the principal investigator to elucidate the complex reaction chemistry of biopolymer materials in supercritical fluids. The research objective is to identify reaction conditions which selectively produce high value chemicals and feedstocks from biopolymer materials.
