Bordeaux to Bombs: Interesting New Applications of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Tuesday, April 9, 2013 – 3:15pm
Regents 109
Joseph S. Broz
NORC at the University of Chicago

New NMR techniques offer a promising commercial approach for quantifying the amount of spoilage in unopened bottles of fine and, often, expensive wine. Originally developed to screen for the oxidative spoilage of fine wine, this full bottle nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method has recently been extended to the detection of explosive liquid precursors in stream of commerce plastic, glass, and non-ferrous metal containers. The use of lower magnetic fields and carefully designed radio frequency pulses make the measurement of magnetic resonance signals in conducting containers possible. Spin-off projects involving multi-photon excitation and RF field focusing will also be mentioned.

The basics of NMR will be covered for those unfamiliar with the subject, as well as spectral editing and advanced pulse techniques for those more interested. Those involved in technology commercialization, physics, chemistry, chemical forensics, and engineering may be interested in the presentation.

In memoriam Gene Mulvihill.

Host: Wes Mathews
Discussion Leader: Wes Mathews