An Ohio University professor's innovation could improve national security, enhance environmental monitoring, benefit science students and help doctors save lives.
Glen Jackson, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, recently received a $562,000 career award grant from the National Science Foundation to build a portable mass spectrometer, which separates and identifies substances based on its molecular composition.
It's essentially a filter that lets through one specific size molecule
which allows us to identify it based on weight and size Jackson said.
The personal computer-sized mass spectrometer is expected to be a major improvement on bulkier, less precise instruments currently used, such as the ion mobility spectrometers used to identify substances during airport baggage screening.
The problem with ion mobility spectrometers is they struggle to tell the difference between explosives and certain hand lotions and medications Jackson said. He expects his mass spectrometer to not only to do a better job at analyzing substances, but at a lower cost.
It's the nature of miniaturizing things
Jackson said. Less material is used. (It uses) smaller voltages (and) smaller power consumptions.
Size and cost are important factors when considering the potential applications of the machine ' particularly for schools.
With this type of innovation, high school and undergraduate students can see demonstrations or experiment with the instrument, which hasn't been logistically or financially viable in the past, Jackson said. Additional uses for the instrument are broad and include national security.
To think what the Department of Homeland Security can do with these types of applications are rather exciting
said Derrell Hood, teaching assistant of chemistry and biochemistry and research assistant.
For instance, soldiers could use the portable mass spectrometer to sense a chemical attack or the Transportation Security Administration could find a chemical weapon before it deploys.
In the medical field, Jackson's portable mass spectrometer could revolutionize bedside diagnosis. A patient could simply breathe into the instrument and it could unobtrusively identify certain cancers or diseases, he said.
Environmental monitoring groups could set up mass spectrometers on the tops of buildings or cell phone towers to monitor smog or even couple these stations as alerts for the release of a chemical warfare agent, Hood said.
Researchers, soldiers and students can all use the same machine with different attachments and task-specific software.
What further sets apart this portable mass spectrometer from similar innovations in mass spectrometer technology is Jackson's method of design.
There are other companies working on reengineering and shrinking larger spectrometers
he said. Our design is essentially from scratch.
Jackson will finish building the instrument when he receives the final piece in a few weeks from an engineering company, which is when he and Hood will begin testing. Jackson said he was uncertain of when the project could be completed.
The NSF career award is granted to professors at or near the beginning of their careers. Professors may apply for funding once per year for one project. The most recent grant is Jackson's second in two years.
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