(31)P and (27)Al NMR studies of aqueous (2-hydroxyethyl) trimethylammonium solutions containing aluminum and phosphorus.

Phosphorus-31 and aluminum-27 nuclear magnetic resonance techniques have been used to characterize the distribution of soluble aluminophosphate species in aqueous solutions of (2-hydroxyethyl) trimethylammonium chloride (2-HETMACl), phosphoric acid, and aluminum sulfate. Soluble aluminophosphate cations obtain from reactions of hexaaqua aluminum cations [A1(H(2)O)(6)](3+), with phosphate ligands (i.e., H(3)PO(4), H(2)PO(4)(-), and acid dimers H(6)P(2)O(8) and H(5)P(2)O(7)(-)). (31)P NMR and (27)Al NMR spectroscopies are very powerful techniques for characterization of the species present in the solution. A number of solutions containing different mole ratio of Al/P were prepared. The assignment of the peaks to aluminate connectivities is attempted, clarifying earlier works and producing information on the equilibrium between various aluminum-containing species (different aluminophosphate complexes). At least seven separated resonances were observed by (31)P NMR spectroscopy indicating presence of different complexes in aluminum phosphate solutions.