Noninvasive in situ visualization of supported catalyst preparations using multinuclear magnetic resonance imaging

Multinuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is employed as a new noninvasive tool for monitoring supported catalyst preparation by visualizing precursor transport within the porous support. In particular, liquid phase 31P MRI experiments were used to visualize the dynamics of H3PO4 penetration into an alumina pellet and have revealed a strong interaction of H3PO4 with the support. Solid state 31P MRI was applied to map the distribution of the adsorbed phosphate inside the support after its drying. Comparison of the liquid phase and solid phase MRI results confirms the correlation of the phosphate distribution in the liquid phase during impregnation and the phosphate adsorbed on the support. The possibility to monitor the transport of metal atoms within the support by a direct detection of their NMR signal is demonstrated for 195Pt nucleus during impregnation of an alumina pellet with an aqueous solution of H2PtCl6. Other possible strategies for the utilization of MRI to characterize in situ the preparation of supported catalysts and other supported materials are briefly discussed.