Magnetic device may have mineral use.

Although it's intended for chemical research, a high-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) device recently acquired by Laurentian University could potentially have some use for the local mining industry.

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"Later on, it could help to find new ways to determine mineral deposits," says Dr. Gerardo Ulibarri, assistant professor, department of chemistry and biochemistry.

"It could be used to determine, for instance, the amount of a specific mineral in a sample, or to determine the structure of a certain type of mineral."

Ulibarri compares the NMR to the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices typically found in hospitals, except that it is more focused on "hard" data, rather than pictures.

"It's exactly the same instrument, but the only difference is that the signal you receive from an MRI is transformed into an image, while the NMR transforms it into lines that mean different things on different scales. That gives us a lot of information, more so than an image of a head or a brain. So it's a lot like an MRI, except that it's more research-oriented."

As an example, Ulibarri points out that the NMR allows researchers to identify how many protons can be found in an organic molecule, as well as their type and their connectivity. This allows him and his team of researchers to not only design medical drugs and investigate new ways of treating cancer, but also to create pheromones to attract insects to assist various agencies with environmental issues.

Ulibarri, a medicinal chemist who refers to the NMR as his "workhorse", arrived at Laurentian nearly three years ago after teaching in Ottawa, Montreal, and Paris, France to find the school did not have what he needed to do his work.

Although the school already owned a nuclear magnetic resonance device, it was a low-field instrument, meaning that it is not powerful or accurate enough to conduct advanced levels of research.

"Let's say that you're driving a Volkswagon Beetle, or you're driving a Ferrari; obviously, it's going to differ," Ulibarri says. "We had a Volkwagon Beetle, and we still have it, because it gets you from Point A to Point B, but it's not providing the quality of research I wanted to institute here."

In fact, only one high-field NMR device can be found in Northern Ontario, located at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, with the next closest one located at Toronto's York University.

With a potential price of up to $1.6 million, purchasing a new high-field unit was out of the question, he says. However, after contacting some acquaintances within the pharmaceutical industry, he discovered that Montreal's Merck Frosst was looking at mothballing one of its NMR devices.

After the company agreed to donate the unit, valued at $200,000, the manufacturer also agreed to pitch in. Bruker Biospin took the device back to its headquarters in Milton, Ontario, where it refurbished the unit over six months and installed a used $300,000 supercomputer.

In order to create a laboratory specifically for the device, Laurentian had to undertake nearly $300,000 in renovations to a transform a small facility located next to the school's stadium. The 750-square-foot building was formerly used to study slag from the local area mines and had to be emptied out, cleaned and fixed up to suit the necessary scientific standards.

With Bruker and Merck Frosst on board, FedNor and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund agreed to contribute to the construction, donating $79,350 and $86,000, respectively.

Now fully functional, the laboratory is being used by Laurentian students from various programs, including chemistry, biochemistry, and engineering. It provides specific benefit to PhD students looking to enter the pharmaceutical industry, as they will be able to earn up-to-date knowledge on tools currently being used by the major players in the industry, allowing them to quickly integrate and adapt.

Several outside agencies have already expressed interest in making use of the new NMR, including the National Research Council in Sault Ste. Marie, as well as Nipissing University in North Bay. A number of unnamed local businesses have also indicated their interest in processing organic samples.

"It is not exclusively for Laurentian University, as we try to collaborate with others. Whoever needs it, we try to help them."

By NICK STEWART

Northern Ontario Business