Quincy University’s chemistry department has received a significant boost to its research capabilities thanks to a generous donation from BASF, a global chemical production company with a local facility in Palmyra, Missouri.

The donation includes advanced equipment, such as a variety of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) columns, offering students hands-on experience with state-of-the-art technology. BASF’s donation is for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), a critical technique in chemistry used to separate and analyze compounds within a sample. 

Caitlin Deskins, associate professor of chemistry at Quincy University, emphasized the importance of the new equipment.

“We just got this HPLC instrument last year through our Title III grant, and it came with one column,” Deskins said. “What you’d find out is not all columns are the same, and you might need different columns for different procedures.”

Thanks to BASF’s donation, the department now has a variety of HPLC columns, enabling students to perform a wider range of chemical tests and procedures.

“Their generous donation of many different columns allows students to now perform a wide range of tests,” Deskins said.

“We try to recycle any unused columns that we’re not using,” Justin Williams said. “By providing these columns, we can help assist universities such as Quincy in upgrading their instrumental analytics courses.”

Justin Williams is a senior chemist at BASF and works at the Palmyra location.

The new equipment is already creating excitement among students. Colin Fitzgerald, a chemistry student at Quincy University, shared his enthusiasm about the possibilities the donation unlocks.

“The new equipment will be really helpful,” Fitzgerald said. “In the past, we’ve only been able to measure the total phenolic content of our blueberries, so this will help us get a better understanding of what compounds we’re getting.”

The donation is valued at thousands of dollars and represents BASF’s ongoing support for education and workforce development in the sciences. Located in Palmyra, Missouri, BASF is a global leader in the production of technical and formulated products for farmers, and it maintains a strong commitment to fostering local talent and innovation.

North Campus at Quincy University, home to the school’s science programs, houses the chemistry lab on its third floor. With this latest donation, the department is better positioned to prepare students for careers in the sciences by giving them access to advanced tools and methodologies.

Chemistry students and faculty expressed gratitude for BASF’s support, which they say will help advance their studies and provide a deeper understanding of complex chemical processes.

The partnership between Quincy University and BASF exemplifies how local businesses and educational institutions can collaborate to drive innovation and provide students with the tools they need to succeed.