The Department of Chemistry is upgrading its laboratory instruction in chemical separations and analysis through the purchase of a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) system. The theory and practice of GC-MS analyses is being integrated into the undergraduate laboratories covering advanced organic chemistry, instrumental analysis and molecular structure for chemistry majors plus a chemical instrumentation laboratory course for biologists. The instrument is also used in undergraduate student research projects which currently include efforts to improve precombustion desulfurization of Illinois coal, novel syntheses of new pharmaceuticals, synthesis of new catalysts for the chemical industry and the design of safer artificial sweeteners based on natural products.
