Characterization of porous media using NMR methods

Abstract

This chapter concentrates on characterization of the actual pore space, and transport within the pore space, using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods. NMR studies of adsorbates that specifically give information on the pore space are considered. Some information obtained on porous media from conventional NMR spectroscopy is also discussed. The chapter discusses the technique of relaxation time measurements that have been widely used to characterize porous solids. It discusses the pulsed field gradient (PFG) methods used to probe the local structure of the pore space and to characterize transport within it. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques that are also used to characterize the pore space and to measure transport and applications are also discussed. The chapter is concerned with mesoporous and macroporous materials, as it is for these systems that NMR is particularly useful in characterizing the pore space. Some applications of NMR techniques to probe the pore space and transport within microporous materials are mentioned.