Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility

Background

Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) has a high-resolution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectrometer that our undergraduate students use in several laboratory courses, including: CHEM 231: General Chemistry I, CHEM 243: Analytical Chemistry I, CHEM 352: Organic Chemistry II, and CHEM 353: Organic Spectroscopic Analysis.

Analytical Chemistry and Food Analysis students using the NMR for their laboratories

Introductory courses that use the instrument include: on-campus CHEM 110: Our Chemical World and CHEM 122: Introduction to Organic/Biochemistry. The NMR is also used in the CULG 410: Food Chemistry and Analysis laboratory, in collaboration with our Culinology Program.

An NMR primer for our Introduction to Organic/Biochemistry students

Pharmaceutical Analysis by NMR for the on-campus Our Chemical World course

We also train high school students on our NMR as part of our outreach mission at SMSU. The students bring samples they prepared at their high school. We provide the necessary training for the students to conduct their own NMR analyses. This provides valuable hands-on activities for area high schools to help prepare their students for college.

Area high school students trained on the NMR during a field trip to our campus

What is the purpose of NMR?

NMR uses similar technology to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for hospitals. An MRI provides an internal image of a person. An NMR provides spectra that can be used to determine molecular structures. The instrument is often used in the pharmaceutical industry. We train our students on sample preparation, operation of the instrument, data processing, and interpretation of the spectra. NMR Spectroscopists make a good living in the chemical industries.

The NMR Spectrometer is operated through an easy-to-use computer interface

Examples of NMR data that we train our students to acquire and analyze

Where did the NMR come from?

Our faculty and administration applied for a Minnesota State Leveraged Equipment grant after receiving corporate matching funds. The SMSU Foundation then conducted a fundraiser to help close the funding gap. Our Science Department covered the costs associated with shipping and installation. We now have a high-resolution NMR Spectrometer that is used in several courses.

         
Pictures from the installation of our high-resolution NMR Spectrometer

      
Students from our Organic Spectroscopic Analysis course load the NMR autosampler

NMR Services for Colleges and Industries

SMSU provides NMR services to colleges, universities, and industries to help support the operational costs associated with the instrument. We also provide field trips to community colleges so that students can acquire experimental spectra using their samples. You can download the flyers from this webpage outlining these services and contact information.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Service for Colleges and Universities

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Services for Chemical Industries

Interested in supporting these efforts?

The operational costs associated with running our NMR (parts, repairs, coolants for the magnet, etc.) increase annually. If you would like to help support these efforts, please donate to our NMR account through our Business Services. With your help, we can keep this instrument at SMSU for our students and area high schools. Thank you.