MUE: Acquisition of compact Multi-user Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Electronic Paramagnetic Resonance (RPE) equipments for the characterization of organic and inorganic substances

• Grant number: 23/17169-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Infrastructure Program - Small Medium Sized
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Tiago Venancio
• Grantee: Tiago Venancio
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Alzir Azevedo Batista ; José Mario de Aquino ; Kleber Thiago de Oliveira ; Moacir Rossi Forim ; Rose Maria Carlos

Abstract

High-resolution NMR is, undoubtedly, one of the most powerful techniques for the structural elucidation or the identification of organic and inorganic substances already known. It is an essential technique for Chemistry, Material Sciences, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, with application in both academia and industry. However, the superconductor magnets from these equipments require expensive refilling of liquid helium and nitrogen. In this context, strong development has been made in the construction of permanent magnets for benchtop equipment which do not require maintenance with cryogenics, as the Bruker FT-80 machine. Thus, the use of this equipment, mainly for routine analysis, has been increasingly widespread in academia and many important applications have emerged, including prospects for use in industry. In this context, compact NMR equipment has a lot to contribute to many works already carried out not only in the Chemistry Department at UFSCar, but also in other institutions and companies that hire our services. Conventional EPR spectrometers are large, and, for better performance, the electromagnet temperature must be kept constant. For this purpose, water cooling systems are used to protect against excessive heating of the electromagnet. The Bruker MS5000 X-band machine uses a small magnet, with a field of the order of milli Tesla, and a rare earth magnet that does not require a cooling system. Furthermore, it can be used both in a teaching laboratory (easy adjustment of parameters, in addition to introducing fundamental concepts of the structure of matter) and in research laboratories at postgraduate level. UFSCar does not have such instrument and its acquisition will promote a leap in quality for numerous research groups, since the configuration of the RPE will allow the service of several research groups not only from our department, but from other UFSCar departments such as Physics, Biology and Medicine, as well as other teaching and research institutions in the region. In the didactic field, both NMR and EPR equipment will allow significant contribution in experimental subjects, since undergraduate students can have access to simpler equipments, but which carries out the most routine and informative experiments for their needs, which will help them to better understand the structure of matter. (AU)