MEASURING DIFFUSION OF XENON IN SOLUTION WITH HYPERPOLARIZED XE-129 NMR

A hyperpolarized Xe-129 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) technique for measuring diffusion of xenon in solution is presented. The dramatical ly enhanced NMR signal of hyperpolarized Xe-129 makes it possible to m easure the xenon self-diffusion coefficient with a single-shot NMR exp eriment. Diffusion constants of xenon in various solvents are reported . A value of (2.2 +/- 0.4) x 10(-5) cm(2) s(-1) was measured for xenon in water at room temperature. The potential applications of this tech nique to in vivo experiments are discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.