High-field NMR Research Articles

Polymorphs of Rb3ScF6: X-ray and Neutron Diffraction, Solid-State NMR, and Density Functional Theory Calculations Study.

The crystal structures of three polymorphs of Rb3ScF6 have been determined through a combination of synchrotron, laboratory X-ray, and neutron powder diffraction, electron diffraction, and multinuclear high-field solid-state NMR studies. The room temperature (RT; α) and medium-temperature (β) structures are tetragonal, with space groups I41/a (Z = 80) and I4/m (Z = 10) and lattice parameters a = 20.2561(4) Å, c = 36.5160(0) Å and a = 14.4093(2) Å, c = 9.2015(1) Å at RT and 187 °C, respectively. The high-temperature (γ) structure is cubic space group Fm3̅m (Z = 4) with a = 9.1944(1) Å at 250 °C. The temperatures of the phase transitions were measured at 141 and 201 °C. The three α, β, and γ Rb3ScF6 phases are isostructural with the α, β, and δ forms of the potassium cryolite. Detailed structural characterizations were performed by density functional theory as well as NMR. In the case of the β polymorph, the dynamic rotations of the ScF6 octahedra of both Sc crystallographic sites have been detailed.

Farklı pH ortamlarında hazırlanmış L-Askorbik Asit çözeltilerinin taşınabilir 1H NMR spektroskopisi ile pratik analizi

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra and its action on characterization of pH dependent systems are among the most useful tools in spectroscopic techniques. Nevertheless, practical considerations often limit the application of High field NMR owing to its huge dimensions, expense and time-consuming property. On the other hand, benchtop devices could be another option with portable function and permanent magnet mechanism (1–2 T) but with several disadvantages such as reduced sensitivity and low resolution. In this study, proton exchange rates depending on pH of a selected molecule, were monitored by both 800 MHz High-Field and 60 MHz Bench-top H1 NMR to be compared. L-Ascorbic acid (AA) which is an important substrate for body and biological reac-tions was chosen as a target model molecule. This study supported the use of NMR for pH dependent chemical changes due to protonation. According to spectrum results and previous literature studies, shifting behaviour of Peak 1 (assigned to C4-H13) towards lower frequencies upon pH increase, gave us its feasibility for pKa determi-nation. While High-field NMR spectroscopy demonstrated the compositional analysis of AA and proton exchanges showing couplings between protons, Benchtop NMR was displayed as a limited tool owing to broadened lines of splitting peaks. Even so, shifting tendency of Peak 1 was still obtained quantitatively and promoted the feasibility of Benchtop NMR for characterization of a model molecule which was L-ascorbic acid. In brief, this study sup-ported the effect of magnetic field strength on characterization of pH dependent chemical exchange regimes for vitamins.

Harvest time affects antioxidant capacity, total polyphenol and flavonoid content of Polish St John\u2019s wort\u2019s (Hypericum perforatum L.) flowers

The polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity of hyperforin and hypericin-standardized H. perforatum L. extracts may vary due to the harvest time. In this work, ethanol and ethanol–water extracts of air-dried and lyophilized flowers of H. perforatum L., collected throughout a vegetation season in central Poland, were studied. Air-dried flowers extracts had higher polyphenol (371 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (160 mg CAE/g) content, DPPH radical scavenging (1672 mg DPPH/g), ORAC (5214 µmol TE/g) and FRAP (2.54 mmol Fe2+/g) than lyophilized flowers extracts (238 mg GAE/g, 107 mg CAE/g, 1287 mg DPPH/g, 3313 µmol TE/g and 0.31 mmol Fe2+/g, respectively). Principal component analysis showed that the collection date influenced the flavonoid and polyphenol contents and FRAP of ethanol extracts, and DPPH and ORAC values of ethanol–water extracts. The ethanol extracts with the highest polyphenol and flavonoid content protected human erythrocytes against bisphenol A-induced damage. Both high field and benchtop NMR spectra of selected extracts, revealed differences in composition caused by extraction solvent and raw material collection date. Moreover, we have shown that benchtop NMR can be used to detect the compositional variation of extracts if the assignment of signals is done previously.

Incorporating Benchtop NMR Spectrometers in the Undergraduate Lab: Understanding Resolution and Circumventing Second-Order Effects

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is commonly introduced to students in the classroom, but its hands-on use in undergraduate laboratories is far less common. The significant costs to purchase and maintain a traditional high-field NMR spectrometer means that many institutions cannot offer this service to their students. Benchtop NMR spectrometers represent a very powerful alternative at a fraction of the cost and laboratory footprint. However, concerns about resolution and managing second-order effects can hamper its incorporation into the undergraduate curricula. Herein, we describe how resolution at the benchtop level differs from traditional high-field instruments and provide a thorough, tabulated list of 204 molecules which exhibit little to no second-order effects at the lower magnetic fields utilized in benchtop NMR spectroscopy.

Zero- to Ultralow-Field NMR Spectroscopy of Small Biomolecules.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a well-established analytical technique used to study chemicals and their transformations. However, high-field NMR spectroscopy necessitates advanced infrastructure, and even cryogen-free benchtop NMR spectrometers cannot be readily assembled from commercially available components. We demonstrate construction of a portable zero-field NMR spectrometer employing a commercially available magnetometer and investigate its applications in analytical chemistry. In particular, J-spectra of small representative biomolecules [13C]-formic acid, [1-13C]-glycine, [2,3-13C]-fumarate, and [1-13C]-d-glucose were acquired, and an approach relying on the presence of a transverse magnetic field during the detection was investigated for relaxometry purposes. We found that the water relaxation time strongly depends on the concentration of dissolved d-glucose in the range of 1-10 mM suggesting opportunities for indirect assessment of glucose concentration in aqueous solutions. Extending analytical capabilities of zero-field NMR to aqueous solutions of simple biomolecules (amino acids, sugars, and metabolites) and relaxation studies of aqueous solutions of glucose highlights the analytical potential of noninvasive and portable ZULF NMR sensors for applications outside of research laboratories.

Steady-State Free Precession and Solid-State NMR: How, When, and Why

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a well-established technique, to study crystalline and amorphous solids, that provides rich structural and dynamical insights. Many solids NMR experiments, however, are challenged by sensitivity considerations, which demand the use of optimized data acquisition protocols. When inhomogeneous broadenings dominate the lineshapes, as is often the case when dealing with quadrupolar nuclei, the application of multiple echoes by means of Carr-Purcell Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) sequence variants can considerably facilitate the acquisition of solid-state NMR data. This study explores the use of steady-state free precession (SSFP) experiments, another proposal derived from Carr’s early work. SSFP sequences are commonly utilized in magnetic resonance imaging acquisitions, which are also dominated by (gradient-imposed) inhomogeneous broadenings, where they are well-known to provide the highest sensitivity per unit time. SSFP sequences are also common in nuclear quadrupole resonance—yet to our knowledge they have been less explored within the realm of high-field solids NMR on static and spinning samples. The present study examines the application of SSFP to these scenarios, in particular, in what concerns its ability to enhance the sensitivity of wide-line spectra. The regimes when SSFP could be advantageous compared to CPMG acquisitions are examined, and sensitivity enhancements of between 1 and 2 orders of magnitude per unit time are theoretically predicted and experimentally demonstrated in certain instances. Aspects in need of improvement to enable a wider use of SSFP-based approaches, particularly to wide-line quadrupolar studies, are also examined.

Phytochemical and Biological Studies on Bark Extract of Aporosa wallichii Hook.f.

The ethyl acetate extract of bark of Aporosa wallichii Hook.f. was extensively investigated for the chemical characterization of secondary metabolites and for biological activities. After repeated chromatographic separation and purification, two compounds were elucidated as a phenolic compound ferulic acid (1) and an uncommon triterpene glut-5(6)-en-3β-ol (2) from the ethyl acetate extract of barks of A. wallichii by using high field NMR analyses. This is the first report of isolation of both compounds from this plant species. No significant antimicrobial activity was observed for any fraction after Kupchan partitioning of the extract. During the antioxidant activity assay, the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of A. wallichii demonstrated significant DPPH radical scavenging capacity with an IC50 value of 1.25 μg/mL. The other fractions viz. petroleum ether, aqueous and chloroform soluble fractions exhibited moderate, mild, and weak activity respectively. The petroleum ether soluble fraction demonstrated maximum thrombolytic property (51.33%) which was similar to that of standard streptokinase (66.81%).
 Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 19(2): 139-143, 2020 (December)

Rotational correlation times, diffusion coefficients and quadrupolar peaks of the protic ionic liquid ethylammonium nitrate by means of 1H fast field cycling NMR relaxometry

The protic ionic liquid (PIL) ethylammonium nitrate (EAN) is characterized by hydrogen bonding between the NH bonds of the cations and the oxygen atoms of the anions. The three-dimensional H-bond network of EAN very much resembles that of water. Although this first ionic liquid is known for more than 100 years, there is still lack of information about the rotational and translational dynamics, and how both are related to each other. For that purpose, we measured the 1H nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion curves (NMRD) of EAN by means of Fast Field Cycling (FFC) NMR relaxometry. We were able to analyze the measured 1H spin-lattice relaxation rates R1 covering a large temperature range between 248 and 333 K simultaneously. Applying the well-known Bloembergen-Purcell-Pound (BPP) approach, we decomposed the total relaxation rates into intramolecular and intermolecular contributions, describing the rotational and translational dynamics of the ethylammonium cation. Here, we report rotational correlation times, τR, and translational diffusion coefficients, DT, both derived from the total 1H spin-lattice relaxation rates as a function of temperature and frequency. Self-diffusion coefficients, DT, were also determined from the total relaxation rates in the low frequency range, wherein only the intermolecular relaxation contribution is frequency dependent. Then, DT results from the slope of a linear fit of the spin-lattice relaxation rate R1 as a function of the square root of frequency, ν. The diffusion coefficients obtained from both methods are in good agreement with self-diffusion coefficients measured by pulsed-field-gradient (PFG) NMR. The rotational correlation times, τR, derived from the intramolecular 1H relaxation contribution were compared to correlation times obtained from high-field NMR deuteron relaxation experiments, dielectric spectroscopy (DS) and femto-second-infrared (fs-IR) spectroscopy. For EAN, we also observed a local enhancement of the 1H spin-lattice relaxation rates R1 at high frequencies. This so-called quadrupole relaxation enhancement (QRE) results from the interference of the Zeeman transition energy of the 1H spins and the energy difference of two levels of the quadrupole 14N nuclei. QRE is usually known for solids, but rarely for the liquid state as observed here for EAN. Overall, we show that FFC relaxometry provides access to rotational correlation times, translational diffusion coefficients and quadrupole relaxation enhancement at the same time.

Discovery and validation of an NMR-based metabolomic profile in urine as TB biomarker

Despite efforts to improve tuberculosis (TB) detection, limitations in access, quality and timeliness of diagnostic services in low- and middle-income countries are challenging for current TB diagnostics. This study aimed to identify and characterise a metabolic profile of TB in urine by high-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry and assess whether the TB metabolic profile is also detected by a low-field benchtop NMR spectrometer. We included 189 patients with tuberculosis, 42 patients with pneumococcal pneumonia, 61 individuals infected with latent tuberculosis and 40 uninfected individuals. We acquired the urine spectra from high and low-field NMR. We characterised a TB metabolic fingerprint from the Principal Component Analysis. We developed a classification model from the Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis and evaluated its performance. We identified a metabolic fingerprint of 31 chemical shift regions assigned to eight metabolites (aminoadipic acid, citrate, creatine, creatinine, glucose, mannitol, phenylalanine, and hippurate). The model developed using low-field NMR urine spectra correctly classified 87.32%, 85.21% and 100% of the TB patients compared to pneumococcal pneumonia patients, LTBI and uninfected individuals, respectively. The model validation correctly classified 84.10% of the TB patients. We have identified and characterised a metabolic profile of TB in urine from a high-field NMR spectrometer and have also detected it using a low-field benchtop NMR spectrometer. The models developed from the metabolic profile of TB identified by both NMR technologies were able to discriminate TB patients from the rest of the study groups and the results were not influenced by anti-TB treatment or TB location. This provides a new approach in the search for possible biomarkers for the diagnosis of TB.

Prototype REBCO Z1 and Z2 shim coils for ultra high-field high-temperature superconducting NMR magnets

We present promising results of novel high-temperature superconducting (HTS) shim coil prototypes that circumvent the size and strength limitation of our earlier innovative HTS shim concept based on 46-mm wide REBCO tape. The HTS shim coil is placed inside the HTS magnet, mainly for ultra-high-field (> 1 GHz or 23.5 T) NMR magnets, and thus unaffected from the windings’ diamagnetic wall effects. One full-scale version will be applied to clean up Z1 and Z2 harmonic errors in the MIT 1.3-GHz high-resolution NMR magnet composed of an 835-MHz HTS insert, while another version for an MIT 1-GHz microcoil NMR magnet whose small-scale model we are currently building. The prototype sets were wound with a 2-pile, 1.03-mm wide, 0.30-mm thick REBCO conductor. Operated at 77 K, the Z1 shim set generated a 1st harmonic field strength of 179 kHz/cm at 70 A, while the Z2 shim set, composed of two pairs, Z21 and Z22, generated the 2nd harmonic field of 141 kHz/cm2 at 50 A. Together with discussion on technical challenges for this REBCO shim coil concept, we demonstrate its feasibility for the next generation of ultra-high-field (UHF) HTS NMR magnets.

Evaluation of low-field versus high-field proton NMR spectroscopy for quality control of cinnamon samples

The use of cinnamon as a spice for cooking or as a dietary supplement for its nutraceutical properties is widespread around the world. In this study, 28 samples, 14 cooking spices and 14 dietary supplements, were analysed using both high-field (400 MHz) and low-field (60 MHz) NMR. High-field NMR analysis was performed for profiling, quantitative analysis and classification of the samples between Ceylon cinnamon and cassia cinnamon. Then, the capabilities and limitations of low-field NMR for quality control of cinnamon were studied and discussed. At last, the chemometric treatment of low-field NMR spectra has proved to be an interesting way of predicting quantification of their contents in coumarin and (E)-cinnamaldehyde. For dietary supplements, this approach allowed to identify samples containing a higher quantity of hepatotoxic coumarin and thus presenting a potential risk to the health of consumers.

Classification of fentanyl precursors by multivariate analysis of low-field nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy data

High-field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy combined with multivariate analysis techniques have been used extensively in several fields particularly, metabolomics and food quality assessment. In contrast, low-field Fourier transform NMR instruments are a relatively new analytical platform and recent studies have shown its potential application for forensic narcotic identification. In this study Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) were applied on spectra data from both low-field (43 MHz) and high-field (300 MHz) NMR of two key precursors to fentanyl, N-phenethyl-4-piperidone (NPP) and 4-anilino-N-phenethylpiperidine (ANPP). Three different methods were employed for the synthesis of these two precursors – the Siegfried, Valdez and One-Pot methods. The application of low-field NMR spectroscopy combined with multivariate analysis allowed successful classification of fentanyl precursors, NPP and ANPP, based on each synthetic method’s unique impurity profile. This approach supports the possibility of low-field NMR being employed by law enforcement for forensic attribution of clandestine fentanyl and its precursors to a specific synthetic method.

Gradient-based pulse sequences for benchtop NMR spectroscopy

Benchtop NMR spectroscopy has been on the rise for the last decade, by bringing high-resolution NMR in environments that are not easily compatible with high-field NMR. Benchtop spectrometers are accessible, low cost and show an impressive performance in terms of sensitivity with respect to the relatively low associated magnetic field (40–100 MHz). However, their application is limited by the strong and ubiquitous peak overlaps arising from the complex mixtures which are often targeted, often characterized by a great diversity of concentrations and by strong signals from non-deuterated solvents. Such limitations can be addressed by pulse sequences making clever use of magnetic field gradient pulses, capable of performing efficient coherence selection or encoding chemical shift or diffusion information. Gradients pulses are well-known ingredients of high-field pulse sequence recipes, but were only recently made available on benchtop spectrometers, thanks to the introduction of gradient coils in 2015. This article reviews the recent methodological advances making use of gradient pulses on benchtop spectrometers and the applications stemming from these developments. Particular focus is made on solvent suppression schemes, diffusion-encoded, and spatially-encoded experiments, while discussing both methodological advances and subsequent applications. We eventually discuss the exciting development and application perspectives that result from such advances.

Application of benchtop low-field NMR spectrometers in the refining industry: A multivariate calibration approach for rapid characterization of crude oils.

High-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has proven to be a valuable tool to analyze petroleum products but has never acquired widespread acceptance in routine work in oil refinery due to the high cost. The advent of compact, reliable, and affordable cryogen-free low-field benchtop NMR spectrometers suggest a possible role of such instrument for a variety of uses in refining spanning from routine lab work applications to online analysis. In this work, we report the development of a novel benchtop NMR application to estimate the API gravity, sulfur content, total acidity number (TAN), and distillation yields of crude petroleum from 60 MHz 1 H NMR spectra and partial least square (PLS) regression models. The results obtained on a dataset of over 170 crude oil samples and tested with external validation set show performances in terms of root mean square standard error of prediction (RMSEP) matching the analytical methods' ASTM precision. This novel benchtop NMR and multivariate analysis application can thus be used in typical refinery laboratories to provide within minutes and without physical distillation, reliable estimates of the most important properties usually measured on the crude petroleum during refining. The method proves to be a fast, cheaper alternative to the current analytical options providing readily available data for managing crude oil and has high potential to be further exploited for online application.

Probing hepatic metabolism of [2-13C]dihydroxyacetone in vivo with 1H-decoupled hyperpolarized 13C-MR

ObjectivesTo enhance detection of the products of hyperpolarized [2-13C]dihydroxyacetone metabolism for assessment of three metabolic pathways in the liver in vivo. Hyperpolarized [2-13C]DHAc emerged as a promising substrate to follow gluconeogenesis, glycolysis and the glycerol pathways. However, the use of [2-13C]DHAc in vivo has not taken off because (i) the chemical shift range of [2-13C]DHAc and its metabolic products span over 144 ppm, and (ii) 1H decoupling is required to increase spectral resolution and sensitivity. While these issues are trivial for high-field vertical-bore NMR spectrometers, horizontal-bore small-animal MR scanners are seldom equipped for such experiments.MethodsReal-time hepatic metabolism of three fed mice was probed by 1H-decoupled 13C-MR following injection of hyperpolarized [2-13C]DHAc. The spectra of [2-13C]DHAc and its metabolic products were acquired in a 7 T small-animal MR scanner using three purpose-designed spectral-spatial radiofrequency pulses that excited a spatial bandwidth of 8 mm with varying spectral bandwidths and central frequencies (chemical shifts).ResultsThe metabolic products detected in vivo include glycerol 3-phosphate, glycerol, phosphoenolpyruvate, lactate, alanine, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate and glucose 6-phosphate. The metabolite-to-substrate ratios were comparable to those reported previously in perfused liver.DiscussionThree metabolic pathways can be probed simultaneously in the mouse liver in vivo, in real time, using hyperpolarized DHAc.

Glutamate in the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Patients With Schizophrenia: A Meta-analysis of 1H-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Studies

BackgroundTo date, there is no systematic overview of glutamate in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of patients with schizophrenia. Here, we meta-analyzed case-control studies of high-field proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) investigating glutamate in DLPFC. Additionally, we estimated variance ratios to investigate homo/heterogeneity. MethodsPreregistration of the study was performed on September 20, 2019. The predefined literature search on PubMed comprised articles with search terms (magnetic resonance spectroscopy OR MRS) AND (glutamate OR glut∗ OR GLX) AND (schizophrenia OR psychosis OR schizophren∗). Meta-analyses with a fixed- and random-effects model with inverse variance method, DerSimonian-Laird estimator for τ2, and Cohen's d were calculated. For differences in variability, we calculated a random-effects model for measures of variance ratios. The primary study outcome was the difference in glutamate in the DLPFC in cases versus controls. Secondary outcomes were differences in variability. ResultsThe quantitative analysis comprised 429 cases and 365 controls. Overall, we found no group difference (d = 0.03 [95% confidence interval (CI), −0.20 to 0.26], z = 0.28, p = .78). Sensitivity analysis revealed an effect for medication status (Q = 8.35, p = .039), i.e., increased glutamate in antipsychotic-naïve patients (d = 0.46 [95% CI, 0.08 to 0.84], z = 2.37, p = .018). Concerning variance ratios, we found an effect of medication status (Q = 16.95, p < .001) due to lower coefficient of variation ratio (CVR) in medication-naïve patients (logCVR = −0.49 [95% CI, −0.78 to −0.20], z = −3.33, p < .001). In studies with medicated patients, we found higher CVR (logCVR = 0.22 [95% CI, 0.06 to 0.39], z = 2.67; p = .008). ConclusionsWe carefully interpret the higher levels and lower variability in cortical glutamate in antipsychotic-naïve patients as a possible key factor resulting from a putative allostatic mechanism. We conclude that care has to be taken when evaluating metabolite levels in clinical samples in which medication might confound findings.

Probing relaxation models by means of Fast Field-Cycling relaxometry, NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations: Detailed insight into the translational and rotational dynamics of a protic ionic liquid

A combination of temperature dependent Fast Field-Cycling (FFC) relaxometry and high-resolution NMR spectroscopy provides more than five orders of magnitude in frequency range for studying translational and rotational dynamics of ionic liquids. However, to make use of this broad frequency range, certain requirements have to be met: The viscosity of the liquid has to be of the right order of magnitude, and the material has to exhibit a sufficiently broad liquid range. In addition, NMR sensitive nuclei have to be present (ideally) on both, cation and anion, and appropriate relaxation models properly describing the molecular dynamics have to be available. For the latter, Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations are ideally suited to suggest meaningful relaxation models. In this study we employ the protic ionic liquid triethylammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-imide [TEA][NTf2] as model compound to gain insight into details of the molecular dynamical processes. By addressing different NMR sensitive nuclei on both ions, 1H nuclei on the triethylammonium cation, and 19F on the NTf2 anion, we are able to obtain translational dynamics as well as rotational dynamics for both species at the same time. The obtained temperature dependent translatoric diffusion coefficients are consistent with our MD simulations, and are found to be in agreement with data reported in the literature. In addition, two types of NMR relaxation processes are employed to investigate the intramolecular relaxation: (1) dipolar relaxation at low frequencies (employing FFC) addressing 1H and 19F nuclei, and (2) quadrupolar relaxation at high frequencies addressing 2H nuclei. In near quantitative agreement with MD simulations, we show that both, dipolar relaxation obtained via FFC and quadrupolar relaxation obtained via high-field NMR are leading to consistent rotational correlation times, suggesting that the rotational motion of the cation is dominantly isotropic. Hence, the intramolecular 1H relaxation rate of the cation determined via FFC can be appropriately expressed by a single rotational correlation time, compatible with the Bloembergen Purcell Pound (BPP) approach. MD simulations of the NTf2 anion, however, suggest that its reorientational dynamics is strongly anisotropic. Consequently, the proper description of the intramolecular 19F relaxation rate of the anion requires a more complex model beyond the BPP approach employing at least two correlation times: By taking internal rotation of the CF3 groups into account, we are able to determine correlation times compatible with our MD simulations.

Quantification of Fatty Acids and their Regioisomeric Distribution in Triacylglycerols from Porcine and Bovine Sources Using 13 C NMR Spectroscopy.

The uptake of specific fatty acids in humans is dependent on their position on the glycerol backbone. There is a great interest in methods that can access this information fast and accurately. By way of high-resolution NMR, we have analyzed TAG extracted from pig and beef tissues and obtained quantitative data for the composition and regioisomeric distribution of all major unsaturated fatty acids usually found in these source materials, using a combination of manual integration and deconvolution of 13 C NMR spectra. In addition, we have developed a method for determining composition and regioisomeric distribution of the two main saturated fatty acids found in pork (16:0, 18:0). The results are discussed in relation to species-specific genetic characteristics of fatty acid and TAG biosynthesis. The developed method could support decisions related to breeding for desired fatty acid profiles, and stimulate further methodology developments using high field NMR.

Potentials and challenges of high-field PFG NMR diffusion studies with sorbates in nanoporous media

High magnetic fields (up to 17.6 T) in combination with large magnetic field gradients (up to 25 T/m) were successfully utilized in pulsed field gradient (PFG) NMR studies of gas and liquid diffusion in nanoporous materials. In this mini-review, we present selected examples of such studies demonstrating the ability of high field PFG NMR to gain unique insights and differentiate between various types of diffusion. These examples include identifying and explaining an anomalous relationship between molecular size and self-diffusivity of gases in a zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF), as well as revealing and explaining an influence of mixing different linkers in a ZIF on gas self-diffusion. Different types of normal and restricted self-diffusion were quantified in hybrid membranes formed by dispersing ZIF crystals in polymers. High field PFG NMR studies of such membranes allowed observing and explaining an influence of the ZIF crystal confinement in a polymer on intra-ZIF self-diffusion of gases. This technique also allowed measuring and understanding anomalous single-file diffusion (SFD) of mixed sorbates. Furthermore, the presented examples demonstrate a high potential of combining high field PFG NMR with single-crystal infrared microscopy (IRM) for obtaining greater physical insights into the studied diffusion processes.

The superior hydrothermal stability of Pd/SSZ-39 in low temperature passive NOx adsorption (PNA) and methane combustion

Uniform SSZ-39 (Si/Al ratio ∼12) crystals with an average size of about one micron were synthesized and used to support Pd (0.7–3 wt%) for PNA. The as-synthesized materials were characterized by FTIR, XRD, Helium Ion Microscopy, HAADF-STEM imaging, 27Al, 29Si, and 1H-29Si CP solid state NMR spectroscopic techniques. FTIR studies with CO and NO probe molecules reveal that the majority of Pd is dispersed as isolated Pd(II) and Pd(II)−OH centers and as such is suitable as a low-temperature passive NOx adsorber. Pd(II)-NO, Pd(II)(OH)(NO), and Pd(II)(CO)(NO) complexes form in this material during PNA. Comparison to Pd/SSZ-13 (Si/Al ∼12) shows the superior hydrothermal stability of this new material, surviving hydrothermal aging up to 815 °C in 10 % H2O/Air for 16 h without a significant loss of activity. The SSZ-39 crystal structure remains intact during hydrothermal aging up to 1000 °C confirmed by XRD and HAADF-STEM imaging/EDS mapping. However, changes to the framework, as evidenced by high-field 27Al NMR, during such severe hydrothermal treatment significantly alter the NOx release profiles. Besides PNA, this hydrothermally stable material (3 wt% Pd on SSZ-39; Si/Al ∼12) can be used as a robust methane combustion catalyst under practically relevant conditions (i.e., GHSV∼300 L/g*hr). This catalyst shows minimal deactivation after both hydrothermal aging at 750 and 800 °C and prolonged time on stream (105 h) at 425°C. In contrast, both 3 wt% Pd/alumina and 3 wt% Pd/SSZ-13 lose a significant portion of their activity under such conditions, marking an improvement over current technology.