Publication details
MRI Study of Liesegang Patterns: Mass Transport and Banded Inorganic Phase Formation in Gel
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2017 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Applied Magnetic Resonance |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | Full Text |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00723-017-0882-0 |
| Keywords | PRECIPITATION PROCESSES; CHEMICAL-REACTION; ELECTRIC-FIELD; REACTION FRONT; RINGS; NOISE; IMAGES |
| Description | A new non-optic method for the study of Liesegang patterns was tested. Liesegang patterns are periodically banded precipitates produced by the reaction-diffusion process, mostly occurring in geology. The Liesegang experiment (5.5 M NH4OH, gelatin matrix with 0.4 M MgSO4) was monitored using a 9.4 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, allowing the acquisition of sample images in any location and orientation without interfering with the process studied. The development of patterns in a gel matrix was observed for 7 days after starting the reaction. Qualitative data (T-2- and T-2*-weighted images) and quantitative T (2) maps were acquired. Preliminary experiments show that MRI is able to distinguish the regions between the precipitated bands and the structural changes in the gel matrix during the reaction. A damaged gel matrix was measured to reveal the effect of the initial reagent-gel contact area. MRI study of Liesegang patterns provides empirical data which can be used in theoretical model testing. |