Solid-State NMR and Organic Geochemistry

Solid-State NMR and Organic Geochemistry explains solid-state NMR from the point-of-view of organic geochemists interested in applying solid-state NMR in research. Sections describe basic concepts of solid-state NMR adapted for non-NMR specialists as well as an overview of organic geochemistry for NMR specialists. The essentials for acquiring reliable spectra of complex organic matter are also discussed, along with an introduction to the systematic and advanced solid-state NMR techniques and approaches to characterizing complex organic mixtures developed in Dr. Mao?s laboratory. Other sections cover practical aspects of performing solid-state NMR experiments of complex organic matter and applications of solid-state NMR in organic geochemistry.

Applications cover geochemically important functional groups and biopolymers, followed by organic matter from soils, water, sediments, and aerosols, peat, coal, kerogen, and oil shale. Finally, the book covers isotopic enrichment and labelling and solid-state NMR and their applications in organic geochemistry.

1. Introduction
2. Solid-state NMR theory
3. Essentials for acquiring reliable solid-state NMR spectra of complex organic matter
4. Systematic advanced solid-state NMR techniques
5. Practical aspects of performing solid-state NMR experiments of complex organic matter
6. Geochemically important functional groups and biopolymers
7. Organic matter in the geosphere
8. Soil Organic Matter
9. Aquatic Organic Matter
10. Sedimentary organic matter
11. Organic aerosols
12. Peat
13. Coal
14. Kerogen
15. Oil shale
16. Interactions of organic contaminants with organic matter
17. Isotopic enrichment and labelling and solid-state NMR

As a solid-state NMR specialist and a biogeochemist, Dr. Mao's primary research interest is the development and application of advanced solid-state NMR techniques for characterizing two kinds of complex natural organic matter (NOM) samples: (1) environmentally/geochemically-related NOM such as organic matter from soils, water, sediments, and organic wastes, and (2) energy-related organic matter such as kerogen, coal as well as biomass and its residues. He has developed, modified and applied many advanced solid-state NMR techniques for elucidating NOM structures and proposed a systematic approach to characterizing NOM. Dr. Mao is considered a pioneer in solid-state NMR of organic geochemistry and environmental chemistry around the world. He has published more than 130 peer-reviewed papers on solid-state applications in organic geochemistry.