Aluminum-27 NMR studies of alcoholic (2-hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium aluminate solutions

Abstract

27Al NMR spectroscopy is a power tool for investigation of the aluminate species existing in both aqueous and non-aqueous solutions. Aluminum-27 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy also can be used to determine thermodynamic properties of complexes in the solution. In this report, 27Al NMR spectroscopy was used to characterize species present in alkaline alcoholic aluminate solutions. (2-Hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium (2-EHTMA) hydroxide was used as base. In solution of CH 3OH and H 2O in a mole ratio of 64:1 it was possible to detect five signals by aluminum-27 NMR, indicating formation of [Al(OH) 4− n (CH 3OH) n ] ( n−1)+ ( n = 0,1, 2, 3 and 4) species. Aluminum-27 NMR spectroscopy has also used for investigation of the species present in the ethanolic 2-HETMA aluminate solutions. The equilibrium constants for the formation of aluminate complexes were also determined for both methanolic and ethanolic aluminate solutions. Aluminum-27 NMR spectra of propanolic and butanolic 2-HETMA aluminate solutions were also studied.