Solid-state H-2 MAS NMR studies of TNT absorption in soil and clays

The binding of TNT to a soil and soil components is studied with H-2 MAS NM R. This NMR technique clearly shows different interactions for deuterated T NT with soil, quartz, and clays. Basically, this NMR method relies on the w ell-defined H-2 MAS NMR characteristics of a deuterated methyl group attach ed to an aromatic ring. Stationary rings and rings executing 2- or 3-fold j ump motions all yield different NMR spectra. The technique has good sensiti vity; these studies were conducted at a TNT loading of 22 mmol/kg. For the soil sample studied, TNT showed binding similar to a TNT/K10-montmorillonit e sample.