Application of 29Si NMR spectroscopy to study of alkaline aqueous and alcoholic tetraoctylammonium (TOA) silicate solutions

29Si NMR spectroscopy is a powerful tool for studying the silicate species existing in aqueous and non-aqueous solutions. In the present work, 29Si NMR spectroscopy is used to characterize the species present in alkaline alcoholic solutions of silicates. Tetraoctylammonium (TOA) hydroxide is used as a template. The effects of polymerization/depolymerization of silicate anions on alkaline alcoholic solutions are investigated using different alcohols (methanol, 1-propanol, 1,3-propane-diol, and glycerin) by 29Si NMR spectroscopy. The esterification of monomeric silicate, Si(OH)4, in the presence of different alcohols is also studied. Esterification of Si(OH)4 depends on the alkyl chain as well as the number of hydroxyl groups present in the alcohol.