Acquisition of a pXRF and pLIBS Instrument Suite for Geochemistry Research in the Urban Environment

Portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) and portable laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (pLIBS) instruments will be used in Geochemistry research to determine the elemental compositions of soils, sediments, and other environmental media in natural, urban, and human-impacted environments. Rutgers University-Newark is a Hispanic Serving Institution, and supported projects and activities will engage students from diverse backgrounds and foster their participation in place-based research and education. The instruments will be accessible to undergraduate researchers and graduate students, including students participating in NSF-sponsored programs to broaden participation in the Geosciences. Use of the instruments in the field and laboratory will be included in course modules and class projects to enrich the educational experience of students in relevant courses. Ease of use and instrument portability will facilitate inclusion in community- based projects that involve the public in STEM research, and outreach initiatives for education and engagement of K-12 students. Acquisition of portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) and portable laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (pLIBS) instruments will enhance Geochemistry research by providing in-field non- destructive analysis of elemental concentrations in natural, urban and human-impacted environments. The instrument suite enables quantitative and qualitative analysis of a wide range of elements, including light elements such as carbon. Instrument capabilities will be coupled with complementary laboratory-based and advanced analytical techniques for elemental analysis, speciation, and matrix determination. The pXRF/pLIBS instrument suite will be used in Geochemistry research for in-situ and in-field analyses of heavy metals, major elements and nutrient elements in soils and sediments. Projects to be supported integrate research with education and community engagement, and include heavy metal spatial distribution and speciation in Newark, New Jersey soils; the geochemistry of legacy pollutants in sediments of the New Jersey Meadowlands; and micronutrient and carbon cycling in agricultural soils. Activities and projects will prioritize training of undergraduate researchers and graduate students through local and international research; in courses and as part of a globalized curriculum; and in NSF-sponsored programs that support participation of groups underrepresented in the Geosciences. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.