Ion-exchange materials, including zeolites and various types of microporous materials, have great potential for solving environmenal problems, such as radioactive waste removal. We use NMR to characterize the local structures of these materials. For example, we use 31P MAS NMR to look at the P local environements of the novel scandium phosphate materials synthesized by Prof. Parise's group. Also 17O MAS NMR is used to investigate the framework oxygen in zeolite LSX and Y. Future studies will involve 17O NMR studies of novel zeolitic materials.