Determining the sizes of micropores in activated charcoals by the pulsed NMR method

The pulsed NMR method was used to measure the nuclear spin-spin relaxation of protons of water adsorbed in micropores of activated charcoal (AC) samples with different porous structures. A correlation was found between the spin-spin relaxation time of water protons in AC with completely filled micropores and the volume density of water primary adsorption centers in the AC samples. An equation for approximating obtained dependences is proposed that allows us to determine the volume of micropores in AC.     

Specific Features of the Adsorption and Nuclear Magnetic Relaxation of the Water Molecules in Active Carbons: 2. The State of Water in Active Carbon with Relatively Large Pores According to the NMR Relaxation Data

The state of water upon adsorption on FAS-3 active carbon with relatively large micropores is studied by the NMR relaxation method. The dependences of the times of spin–lattice (T ₁) and spin–spin (T ₂) NMR relaxation of adsorbed water molecules on the adsorption value are established. The character of the dependences of T ₁ and T ₂ on the number of adsorbed water molecules per primary adsorption site reflects the specific features of the volume filling of micropores and the formation of a continuous adsorption layer on the mesopore surface due to cluster coalescence on the one wall of a pore. The results obtained are compared with the data for typical microporous active carbons, as well as with the data obtained by the adsorption method.     

Features of the sorption of water vapor and nitrogen on cellulose

Molecular-kinetic parameters of adsorptives, i.e., water (at 300 K) and nitrogen (at 77 K) vapors, are calculated and compared at the initial steps of their adsorption by cellulose. The role of the dipole structure of water molecules is considered upon their interaction with active centers of cellulose, forming heterogeneous electric fields in its pores. The effect of the temperature of the adsorptive and the sizes of its molecules on activation penetration through narrowings of the micropores dominant in absolutely dry cellulose due to the mobility of its structure is determined. The development of a porous system upon water adsorption is demonstrated according to ¹H NMR. It is concluded that low-temperature nitrogen adsorption on cellulose yields rather limited information on its structure and adsorption properties.     

Effect of water on relaxation processes in biopolymer sorbents

NMR, adsorption, and comparative methods have been employed to study effect of water on relaxation processes in polysaccharides. The development of the segmental mobility of macromolecules upon polysaccharide devitrification, which accompanies the formation of an adsorption layer with a thickness of about two water molecules, has been shown to make the largest contribution to the spin-lattice relaxation processes in the polymer-water system.     

13C NMR spectroscopy of 13C1-labeled octanethiol-protected Au nanoparticles: shifts,relaxations, and particle-size effect

We report here an investigation of metal-ligand interactions in nanoparticles with 13C NMR, using a labeled 13C1-octanethiol, a protecting ligand for self-assembled monolayer (SAM) systems, in which close proximity of the 13C1 to the metal surface serves as an effective probe for the changing electronic environment. Several remarkable results have been obtained: as the metal core size increases from 1.6 to 4.0 nm, the 13C1 spectrum is downshifted from 40.5 to 53 ppm, and the spin-spin relaxation rate, T2-1, increases while the spin-lattice relaxation ratio decreases. Although the spin-lattice relaxation may be due to particle tumbling and ligand motion in the liquid state, the main source of the spin-spin relaxation, and NMR shift, is most possibly due to the changing electronic properties of the metal core.     

Effect of macropore convection on mass transfer in a bidisperse adsorbent particle

The importance of adsorption induced convection in the macropores of a bidisperse adsorbent particle is studied for a step change in mole fraction or total pressure at the surface of the particle. Material balance equations for a binary gas mixture are written for both the macropores and the macropores with allowance for convection in the macropores, which is described by Darcy's law. The coupled set o1' partial differential equations is solved by orthogonal collocation. The enhancement in mass transfer as a result of convection is assessed by comparing the fractional uptake curves obtained with and without allowance for convection. Both equilibrium-based and kinetic-based separation processes are considered. The effect of the presence of convection in determining the controlling diffusional resistance (macropore or micropore) is also examined. Due to inclusion of convection no single non-dimensional group alone can determine the relative importance of macropore and micropore resistances. Results show that convection can significantly affect the performance of an equilibrium-based macropore diffusion controlled process and that the enhancement in mass transfer is more for a particle with a high value of Darcy permeability.     

Frequency‐dependent NMR relaxation of liquids confined inside porous media containing an increased amount of magnetic impurities

Frequency‐dependent NMR relaxation studies have been carried out on water (polar) and cyclohexane (nonpolar) molecules confined inside porous ceramics containing variable amounts of iron oxide (III). The porous ceramics were prepared by compression of powders mixed with iron oxide followed by thermal treatment. The pore size distribution was estimated using a technique based on diffusion in internal fields that exposed a narrow distribution of macropore sizes with an average pore dimension independent of iron oxide content. The relaxation dispersion curves were obtained at room temperature using a fast field cycling NMR instrument. They display an increase of the relaxation rate proportional to the iron oxide concentration. This behavior is more prominent at low Larmor frequencies and is independent of the polar character of the confined molecules. The results reported here can be fitted well with a relaxation model considering exchange between molecules in the close vicinity of the paramagnetic centers located in the surface and bulk‐like molecules inside the pores. This model allows the extraction of the transverse diffusional correlation time that can be related to the polar character of the confined molecules. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Specific Features of the Adsorption and Nuclear Magnetic Relaxation of Water Molecules in Active Carbons. 1. Relation between the Spin-Spin Relaxation of Adsorbed Water Molecules and Structural Parameters of Microporous Active Carbons

Relation between the spin-spin nuclear magnetic relaxation time T ₂ of adsorbed water molecules and parameters of microporous structure of carbon adsorbents is disclosed. The pattern of dependences of T ₂ on the relative pressure and the number of water molecules per one primary adsorption site (PAS) is governed by the pore sizes and the number and nature of PASs. At a complete micropore filling, the T ₂ value depends on the volume density of PASs in active carbons. In the absence of PASs in the micropores, T ₂ is equal approximately to 21 ms. The larger the volume density of PASs, the smaller the number of water molecules per one PAS at the complete filling of micropores; i.e., the looser the packing of water molecules. The results of studying active carbons by the pulsed ¹H NMR method agree well with the data of the adsorption method.     

Effects of drying and pressing on the pore structure in the cellulose fibre wall studied by 1H and 2H NMR relaxation

A 1H and 2H NMR relaxation method was used to investigate the influence of drying and pressing on the pore size and pore size distribution in the cellulose fibre wall. The investigation was made in the moisture interval in which cellulose fibres normally shrink, i.e. from a moisture ratio of about 1.5 g water/g fibre to dry fibres. When the moisture content of a fibre sample was decreased by drying or pressing, the pores decreased in size and the pore size distribution became narrower. It was found that there were only small differences at a given moisture content between the pore size distributions of samples prepared by drying and by pressing. The results also indicate that the pore shrinkage in cellulose fibres during pressing or drying is a process in which the cell wall pores of a wet cellulose fibre successively shrink as the moisture content decreases. It was observed that, at low moisture contents, pressing and drying resulted in different 1H NMR spin-lattice relaxation profiles. This is discussed in terms of morphology differences in the fibre matrix. The mobility of the protons in the solid phase influences the liquid 1H NMR spin-lattice relaxation in heterogeneous systems through magnetization transfer. We have also studied the effects of hornification in recycled pulps     

Estimation of micropore size distribution in active carbons from adsorption isotherms of water vapor

A possibility of estimation of the micropore size distribution in the carbon adsorbents with the developed micro-and mesoporous structure by analysis of the adsorption isotherms of water vapors was considered. At saturation water condenses in micropores in a form of a weakly compressed liquid. However, water molecules in micropores are packed not so closely as in the liquid because of steric hindrance. Therefore, the real density of water adsorbed in the micropores is lower than that of water adsorbed on an open surface and lower than the density of the normal liquid. An analysis of the adsorption isotherms of water vapors with account for the both opposite effects on the water density gives reliable data on the micropore sizes of the carbon adsorbents. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 40–43, January, 2007.     

1H NMR relaxation in glycerol solutions of nitroxide radicals: effects of translational and rotational dynamics

(1)H spin-lattice relaxation rates in glycerol solutions of selected nitroxide radicals at temperatures between 200 K and 400 K were measured at 15 MHz and 25 MHz. The frequency and temperature conditions were chosen in such a way that the relaxation rates go through their maximum values and are affected by neither the electron spin relaxation nor the electron-nitrogen nucleus hyperfine coupling, so that the focus could be put on the mechanisms of motion. By comparison with (1)H spin-lattice relaxation results for pure glycerol, it has been demonstrated that the inter-molecular electron spin-proton spin dipole-dipole interactions are affected not only by relative translational motion of the solvent and solute molecules, but also by their rotational dynamics as the interacting spins are displaced from the molecular centers; the eccentricity effects are usually not taken into account. The (1)H relaxation data have been decomposed into translational and rotational contributions and their relative importance as a function of frequency and temperature discussed in detail. It has been demonstrated that neglecting the rotational effects on the inter-molecular interactions leads to non-realistic conclusions regarding the translational dynamics of the paramagnetic molecules.     

Dynamic behavior of water in hydro-swollen crosslinked polymer gel as studied by PGSE 1H NMR and pulse 1H NMR

¹H NMR measurements on spin-lattice relaxation time (T₁) and spin-spin relaxation time (T₂) were carried out on hydro-swollen crosslinked poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) gel to elucidate molecular motion of water molecules contained in the gel as a function of the degree of crosslinking. From these experimental results, it was found that ¹H T₁ and T₂ decrease with an increase of the degree of crosslinking. This shows that molecular motion of water molecules is strongly restrained owing to crosslinking. Further, pulsed-field-gradient spin-echo ¹H NMR measurements were carried out to determine the self-diffusion coefficient of water molecules (D_H2O contained in the PMAA gel at 300 K as a function of the degree of crosslinking. From these experimental results, it was found that the D_H2O value decreases with an increase of the degree of crosslinking. This shows that translational molecular motion of water molecules is restrained by crosslinking.     

Clustering dynamics in water/methanol mixtures: a nuclear magnetic resonance study at 205 k<T<295 k

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) experiments have been performed to measure the spin-lattice, T1, and spin-spin, T2, relaxation times of the three functional groups in water/methanol mixtures at different methanol molar fractions (XMeOH=0, 0.04, 0.1, 0.24, 0.5, 1) as a function of temperature in the range 205 K相似文献   

Molecular exchange dynamics in partially filled microscale and nanoscale pores of silica glasses studied by field-cycling nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry

Nuclear magnetic spin-lattice relaxation experiments have been performed in partially filled porous glasses with wetting and nonwetting fluids. The frequency dependence of the spin-lattice relaxation rate in Vycor (4 nm pores) and VitraPOR #5 (1 microm pores) silica glasses was studied as a function of the filling degree with the aid of field-cycling NMR relaxometry. The species of primary interest were water ("polar") and cyclohexane ("nonpolar"). Spin-lattice relaxation was examined in the frequency range from 1 kHz to 400 MHz with the aid of a field-cycling NMR relaxometer and an ordinary 400 MHz NMR spectrometer. Three different mobility states of the fluid molecules are distinguished: The adsorbed state at the pore walls, the bulklike liquid phase, and the vapor phase. The adsorbate spin-lattice relaxation rate is dominated by the "reorientation mediated by translational displacements" (RMTD) mechanism taking place at the adsorbate/matrix interface at frequencies low enough to neglect rotational diffusion of the molecules. The experimental data are analyzed in terms of molecular exchange between the different mobility states. Judged from the dependence of the spin-lattice relaxation rates on the filling degree, limits for slow and fast exchange (relative to the RMTD time scale) can be distinguished and identified. It is concluded that water always shows the features of slow exchange irrespective of the investigated pore sizes and filling degrees. This is in contrast to cyclohexane which is subject to slow exchange in micrometer pores, whereas fast exchange occurs in nanoscopic pores. The latter case implies that the vapor phase contributes to molecular dynamics in this case at low filling degrees while it is negligible otherwise.     

Particle-size effect of nanoscale platinum catalysts in oxygen reduction reaction: an electrochemical and 195Pt EC-NMR study

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) measurements and (195)Pt electrochemical nuclear magnetic resonance (EC-NMR) spectroscopy were combined to study a series of carbon-supported platinum nanoparticle electrocatalysts (Pt/CB) with average diameters in the range of roughly 1-5 nm. ORR rate constants and H(2)O(2) yields evaluated from hydrodynamic voltammograms did not show any particle size dependency. The apparent activation energy of 37 kJ mol(-1), obtained for the ORR rate constant, was identical to that obtained for bulk platinum electrodes. Pt/CB catalysts on Nafion produced only 0.7-1% of H(2)O(2), confirming that the direct four-electron reduction of O(2) to H(2)O is the predominant reaction. NMR spectral features showed characteristic size dependence, and the line shapes were reproduced by using the layer-deconvolution model. Namely, the variations in the NMR spectra with particle size can be explained as due to the combined effect of the layer-by-layer variation of the s-type and d-type local density of states. However, the surface peak position of (195)Pt NMR spectra and the spin-lattice relaxation time of surface platinum atoms showed practically no change with the particle size variation. We conclude that there is a negligible difference in the surface electronic properties of these Pt/CB catalysts due to size variations and therefore, the ORR activities are not affected by the differences in the particle size.     

Study of the adsorption of organic molecules on transition metal exchanged zeolites via solid state NMR. Part 2: adsorption of organic molecules on zeolite NaX, CaX, and CaCoX

Literature [Denayer et al. Microporous Mesoporous Mater. 2007, 103, 1 and Denayer et al. Microporous Mesoporous Mater. 2007, 103, 11] shows that zeolite NaX exchanged with Ca(2+) and Co(2+) ions is able to remove cyclopentadiene (CPD) impurities from a 1-octene feed with high selectivity. In the present work, the adsorption of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD), CPD, 1-octene, and n-octane on zeolite X, exchanged with Ca(2+) and/or Co(2+) ions, has been investigated via (1)H magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy. The liquid adsorbate was dosed under inert atmosphere in an MAS rotor filled with dry adsorbent, at a pore filling degree of 70%. Next, the evolution in time was recorded of the (1)H MAS NMR spectrum and the (1)H spin-lattice and spin-spin relaxation times of the adsorbed components. For the various adsorbate-adsorbent systems, a plot is made of the signal intensity versus the square root of the contact time. It is found that, over the considered time interval, Fickian diffusion takes place. On the basis of the change in time of the spin-lattice relaxation time, a transport diffusion coefficient ranging between 1 and 2 x 10(-15) m(2) x s(-1) is calculated. Moreover, there appear to be two sorption regimes, with different diffusivities. A comparison is made between the (1)H spin-lattice relaxation behavior of DCPD, 1-octene, and n-octane, indicating that 1-octene and n-octane are located closer to the paramagnetic ions than DCPD. The average distance between the adsorbate molecules and the paramagnetic ions is derived from relaxometric data. By analyzing the chemical shifts of the resonance lines, it is found that the pi-interaction of CPD and 1-octene is stronger than that of DCPD.     

One-pot preparation and uranyl adsorption properties of hierarchically porous zirconium titanium oxide beads using phase separation processes to vary macropore morphology

A simple and engineering friendly one-step process has been used to prepare zirconium titanium mixed oxide beads with porosity on multiple length scales. In this facile synthesis, the bead diameter and the macroporosity can be conveniently controlled through minor alterations in the synthesis conditions. The precursor solution consisted of poly(acrylonitrile) dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide to which was added block copolymer Pluronic F127 and metal alkoxides. The millimeter-sized spheres were fabricated with differing macropore dimensions and morphology through dropwise addition of the precursor solution into a gelation bath consisting of water (H(2)O beads) or liquid nitrogen (LN(2) beads). The inorganic beads obtained after calcination (550 °C in air) had surface areas of 140 and 128 m(2) g(-1), respectively, and had varied pore architectures. The H(2)O-derived beads had much larger macropores (5.7 μm) and smaller mesopores (6.3 nm) compared with the LN(2)-derived beads (0.8 μm and 24 nm, respectively). Pluronic F127 was an important addition to the precursor solution, as it resulted in increased surface area, pore volume, and compressive yield point. From nonambient XRD analysis, it was concluded that the zirconium and titanium were homogeneously mixed within the oxide. The beads were analyzed for surface accessibility and adsorption rate by monitoring the uptake of uranyl species from solution. The macropore diameter and morphology greatly impacted surface accessibility. Beads with larger macropores reached adsorption equilibrium much faster than the beads with a more tortuous macropore network.     

Nuclear magnetic relaxation in water revisited

In this study, we revisited nuclear magnetic relaxation of (1)H in water at very low Larmor frequencies that has been studied intensively in earlier years. We make use of the recently developed superconducting quantum interference device based ultra-low field NMR technique, which enables much easier access to the longitudinal spin-lattice relaxation time T(1) and the transversal spin-spin relaxation time T(2) below several kHz than traditional field cycling methods. Our data reproduce and complement the earlier results, in that they corroborate the finding of an exchange process with a correlation time of about 0.34 ms at room temperature which can be attributed to the migration of hydronium and hydroxyl ions in neutral water via hydrogen bridges. The corresponding relaxation process is driven by the interaction of the protons with (17)O and contributes to the T(1) and the T(2) relaxation rate by about 0.12 s(-1). In addition, we found evidence of a very slow exchange process at about 100 Hz that has hitherto not been reported.     

Interaction of the human prion PrP(106-126) sequence with copper(II), manganese(II), and zinc(II): NMR and EPR studies

The synthetic peptide encompassing residues 106-126 (PrP106-126, KTNMKHMAGAAAAGAVVGGLG) of the human prion protein was considered for its binding properties toward copper(II), manganese(II) and zinc(II) at pH 5.7. 1H and 13C 1D spectra, 1H spin-lattice relaxation rates, and 1H-15N and 1H-13C HSQC 2D experiments were obtained in the absence and in the presence of metal ions. While Zn(II) was found to yield negligible effects upon any NMR parameter, metal-peptide association was demonstrated by the paramagnetic effects of Cu(II) and Mn(II) upon 1D and 2D spectra. Delineation of structures of metal complexes was sought by interpreting the paramagnetic effect on 1H spin-lattice relaxation rates. Exchange of peptide molecules from the metal coordination sphere was shown to provide sizable contribution to the observed relaxation rates. Such contribution was calculated in the case of Cu(II); whereas the faster paramagnetic rates of peptide molecules bound to Mn(II) were determining spin-lattice relaxation rates almost exclusively dominated by exchange. Proton-metal distances were therefore evaluated in the case of the Cu(II) complex only and used as restraints in molecular dynamics calculations where from the structure of the complex was obtained. The peptide was shown to bind copper through the imidazole nitrogen and the ionized amide nitrogen of His-111 and the amino-terminal group with the terminal carboxyl stabilizing the coordination sphere through ionic interactions. The data were interpreted as to demonstrate that the hydrophobic C-terminal region was not affecting the copper-binding properties of the peptide and that this hydrophobic tail is left free to interact with other target molecules. As for the complex with Mn(II), qualitative information was obtained on carbonyl oxygens of Gly-124 and Leu-125, beyond the terminal Gly-126 carboxyl, being at close distance from the metal ion, that also interacts, most likely, through a hydrogen bond of metal-bound water, with the imidazole ring of His-111.     

Metallic nature and surface diffusion of CO adsorbed on Ru nanoparticles in aqueous media: A 13C NMR study

We report the first observation of the 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) of 13CO, adsorbed from 13CO saturated 0.5 M sulfuric acid solutions, onto the surfaces of commercial Ru-black nanoparticles. The 13C NMR spectra consist of a symmetrically broadened peak having a large isotropic shift as compared to CO adsorbed onto supported Ru catalysts. The variation of the spin-lattice relaxation rate follows Korringa behavior, indicating the metallic nature of adsorbed CO, in addition to varying across the spectrum in a Korringa-like manner. Motional narrowing of the NMR spectrum at higher temperatures, together with an additional contribution to the spin-lattice relaxation rate, indicate that adsorbed CO undergoes rapid diffusion on the particle surfaces. A two-band model analysis of the NMR results indicates that the CO adsorption bond is weaker on Ru as compared to either Pt or Pd. This is also supported by a reduction in the activation energy for CO diffusion on Ru vs either Pt or Pd nanoparticles.