Modified pulsed-field gradient NMR experiments for improved selectivity in the measurement of diffusion coefficients in complex mixtures: application to the analysis of the Suwannee River fulvic acid.

To simplify the complex 1H NMR spectrum of a fulvic acid sample and gain structural and molecular size information, spectral editing techniques were used in conjunction with a general PFG NMR pulse sequence. These editing techniques exploit differences in T1 and T2 relaxation times as well as differences in coupling constants. The experiments were initially performed on a model mixture of glutamic acid and ethyl acetate in order to validate the method as a technique for measurement of diffusion coefficients. The editing experiments were then applied to the International Humic Substances Society Suwannee River fulvic acid standard. These editing techniques allowed more selective measurement of diffusion coefficients for broad classes of components within regions of the 1H NMR spectrum of the fulvic acid solution. The average radii of gyration calculated for the Suwannee River fulvic acid sample from the diffusion coefficients are in good agreement with literature values.