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Diffusivity and Solubility of Nitric Oxide in Water and Saline

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Abstract

Aqueous diffusivities and solubilities of NO were determined by using a chemiluminescence detector to measure time-dependent fluxes across stagnant liquid films confined between polydimethylsiloxane membranes. The NO diffusivities in pure water and PBS at 25∘C were found to be (2.21 ± 0.02) × 10−5 cm2 s−1 and (2.21 ± 0.04) × 10−5 cm2 s−1, respectively. Although lower than most previous values for NO at room temperature, these diffusivities are very similar to those for O2, as one would expect. Extrapolation to 37°C yielded a value of 3.0 × 10−5 cm2 s−1. The solubility of NO in water at 25°C was (1.94 ± 0.03) × 10−6 mol cm−3 atm−1, in agreement with the literature. This agreement, along with the excellent fits obtained to the transient flux data (<4% rms error in each experiment), supports the validity of the simultaneously measured diffusivity. The solubility of NO in PBS at 25°C was (1.75 ± 0.02) × 10−6 mol cm−3 atm−1. The modest (10%) reduction in solubility relative to that in pure water is consistent with the usual effects of salts on gas solubilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

    Ian G. Zacharia & William M. Deen

  2. Biological Engineering Division, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

    William M. Deen

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  1. Ian G. Zacharia
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Correspondence to Ian G. Zacharia.

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Zacharia, I.G., Deen, W.M. Diffusivity and Solubility of Nitric Oxide in Water and Saline. Ann Biomed Eng 33, 214–222 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-005-8980-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-005-8980-9

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