Solid State NMR (SS-NMR) spectroscopy presents a widely applicable analytical method for probing interfaces and internal structure of highly complex systems. As samples are studied in powdered solid form, SS-NMR is a uniquely non-destructive technique, making it especially useful for studying naturally occurring systems without altering their chemical environment. Presented here are two preliminary studies that highlight this utility. First, a study is presented detailing the use of SS-NMR to study the internal polymer matrix of plant cell walls which are a valuable source of biofuels, but which are difficult to breakdown due to these complex polymer interactions. Second, SS-NMR was used to examine the surface chemistry of engineered soil surrogates treated with pesticide probe molecules. The complex chemistry of soils is perfectly suited to analysis by SS-NMR due to its ability to keep samples intact.
