¹³C Magic-Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Clathrate hydrates crystallize into different structures as function of the guest molecule. Some properties of these compounds, as well as their stability and kinetic behavior are function of the hydrate structure present. ¹³C magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectra obtained as a function of time permitted not only the assignment of the hydrate structure, but also determined the quantitative distribution of the gas guests in the different cavities of the hydrate structure during dissociation. At the Center for Hydrate Research, ¹³C MAS NMR spectroscopy is used to provide molecular-scale experimental information on the dissociation mechanisms of the gas hydrates.

All ¹³C MAS NMR spectra are acquired with a Chemagnetics CMX Infinity 400 NMR spectrometer operating at a frequency of 100.5 MHz for ¹³C. Proton decoupling fields of 50 kHz and MAS speeds of about 3 kHz are used.