27Al, 47,49Ti, 31P, and 13C MAS NMR Study of VX, GD, and HD Reactions with Nanosize Al2O3, Conventional Al2O3 and TiO2, and Aluminum and Titanium Metal

Abstract

Reactions of VX, GD, and HD with Al2O3, TiO2 (anatase and rutile), aluminum, and titanium metal powders have been studied by 27Al, 47,49Ti, 31P, and 13C MAS NMR. VX, GD, and HD hydrolyze on both nanosize and conventional Al2O3. A significant droplet size effect on the reaction kinetics is observed. For VX and GD, 27Al and 31P MAS NMR detect the formation of aluminum phosphonate complexes. Similarly, GD hydrolysis on TiO2 yields titanium phosphonate species as detected by 31P MAS NMR. Attempts at obtaining 47,49Ti NMR spectra of these species and those of titanium phosphonate model compounds at 14 T were marginally successful. 47,49Ti NMR spectra were obtainable for anatase and titanium metal; thus, severe second-order quadrupolar linebroadening is suspected for the titanium phosphonate complexes. 47,49Ti NMR spectra obtained for anatase at high magnetic field (17.5 and 21 T) showed anticipated improvement in peak width and resolution. GD reacted with aluminum and titanium powder in the presence of water results in acid-dissolution of the metals and the formation of their respective metal phosphonates.