Welcome to the Pratt Lab blog! Dr. Kerri Pratt is an assistant professor in the Departments of Chemistry and Earth & Environmental Sciences and faculty associate of the Program in the Environment at the University of Michigan. We study the chemical interactions of atmospheric trace gases, particles, clouds, and snow, with a focus on the Polar Regions and wintertime environments. Our interdisciplinary research has relevance to climate change, air quality, and human health. As an analytical chemistry lab, we primarily apply novel mass spectrometry techniques to our field research. We invite you to follow our adventures in (and outside!) the lab!

Monday, April 14, 2014

URG Ambient Ion Monitor

AIM used for training at URG Headquarters in North Carolina.

Earlier this semester we added a new instrument to our lab, the URG 9000D Ambient Air Monitor (AIM). The AIM features a sampling unit in the center that samples chemical species in the particle and gas phase simultaneously. The collected samples are then sent to the two ion chromatography (IC) systems on each side, one for anion analysis and one for cation analysis. The ICs can also be detached from the sampling unit for direct injection analysis of water or melted snow samples. Over winter break, Nate May (me) and Dr. Kerri Pratt flew to URG headquarters in Chapel Hill, North Carolina for training. A week was spent with URG staff Julie Stone and Anwar Nicola, and Dr. Russell Long from the EPA, learning the ins and out of initial setup and operation. Thank you to Julie, Anwar, and particularly Russell for teaching us! Dr. Russell Long's years of field work for the EPA with this instrument was particularly helpful in giving us advice for taking the instrument out on our own future field campaigns. It felt like information overload at times, but we learned a ton and at the end felt prepared to put our AIM to good use back in the lab at the University of Michigan and on future field research campaigns.

As a special end of the week treat, Dr. Russell Long gave Nate a tour from of the atmospheric chemistry laboratories at the EPA Research Triangle Park campus. It was a great chance to see how some of the most advanced laboratory techniques and instrumentation are being used in the atmospheric chemistry field!

Our AIM in the process of installation at the University Of Michigan
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