Conversion of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) to nitric oxide (NO)
A nitric oxide delivery system, which includes a gas bottle having nitrogen dioxide in air, converts nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide and employs a surface-active material, such as silica gel, coated with an aqueous solution of antioxidant, such as ascorbic acid. A nitric oxide delivery system may be used to generate therapeutic gas including nitric oxide for use in delivering the therapeutic gas to a mammal.
1. A system, comprising:
a pressure regulator configured to diffuse gaseous nitrogen dioxide into an air flow, the pressure regulator including a diffusion cell configured to be connected to a source of the gaseous nitrogen dioxide; and
a receptacle fluidically coupled to the pressure regulator, the receptacle including a surface-active material coated with an aqueous solution of an antioxidant configured to convert the gaseous nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide.
2. A system, comprising:
a pressure regulator configured to diffuse gaseous nitrogen dioxide into an air flow;
a receptacle fluidically coupled to the pressure regulator, the receptacle including a surface-active material coated with an aqueous solution of an antioxidant configured to convert the gaseous nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide; and
a cartridge disposed downstream of the receptacle and configured to remove nitrogen dioxide from the air flow.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the cartridge includes activated alumina.
4. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a sample valve coupled to the cartridge and configured to provide samples of the air flow; and
a sensor fluidically coupled to the sample valve, the sensor configured to detect nitrogen dioxide present in the samples of the air flow.
5. A system, comprising:
a diffusion cell configured to diffuse gaseous nitrogen dioxide into an airflow;
a receptacle fluidically coupled to the diffusion cell, the receptacle including a surface-active material wetted with an aqueous solution of an antioxidant configured to convert the gaseous nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide; and
a cartridge downstream of the receptacle, the cartridge configured to remove nitrogen dioxide from the air flow.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the antioxidant includes ascorbic acid.
7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the cartridge includes activated alumina.
8. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:
a sample valve coupled to the cartridge and configured to provide samples of the air flow; and
a sensor fluidically coupled to the sample valve, the sensor configured to detect nitrogen dioxide present in the samples of the air flow.