Magnetic resonance charcoal

The third important concept introduced by Taylor was the use of model reactions, "yard sticks" to determine the mode of activation of molecules by surfaces. For hydrogen activation, Taylor(15) proposed the conversion of ortho to para hydrogen as a measure of the catalytic activity of a surface. This turned out to be more complicated than was first realized. A physical magnetic effect was also operative as was shown among others by Diamond and Taylor(27) for the case of rare earths and by Turkevich and Selwood.(25) Later Laroche and Turkevlch(29) used magnetic resonance to quantify the catalytic effect of charcoal and to differentiate it from dissociative process. The discovery of deuterium opened up the use of isotope exchange reactions as delicate "model reactions" for elucidation of the activation of molecules. Immediately after H. Urey announced the discovery of heavy water in 1932, Taylor(30) realized its potential as a tool in catalytic research and engaged in a massive production in Princeton of heavy water. 

Resing, H.A., Thompson, J.K., and Krebs, J.J. Nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation times of water adsorbed on charcoal. 1964 68 1621-1627. 

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