This proposal is for acquisition of a Shimadzu Nexera High Resolution Liquid Chromatograph Coupled to a Shimadzu Quadrupole Ion Trap Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (LCMS-IT-TOF?). This state of the art equipment is a critical asset for advanced research that will maximize the integration of research and education and accelerate progress in the areas of Energy and Environment and Materials and Manufacturing -two of the top priorities for research and development at SDSM&T. The instrument will fill a critical gap in research infrastructure and capabilities at SDSM&T as there is currently no such instrument on campus. Similar LC/MS systems are available at the South Dakota State University in Brookings and University of South Dakota in Vermillion, which are both approximately 400 miles away from Rapid City. The proposed equipment will serve a large number of departments and individual users across campus and will be a critical asset for accurate molecular mass measurements, reaction monitoring, identification and quantitation of impurities and target compounds in complex chemical and biological systems, rapid screening of small and large molecules, proteomics research for amino acid sequencing, structural analysis and quantitation of enzymes, etc. The LC/MS system will be used for research in a number of disciplines on campus such as chemistry, chemical engineering, bio/geo/chemistry, bioprocessing, microbiology, molecular and applied biology, ecosystems, environmental sciences and engineering, and materials engineering.
