The preparation of anaerobic nitric oxide solutions for the study of heme model systems in aqueous and nonaqueous media: some consequences of NO x impurities.

The reactions of nitric oxide (NO) have been a subject of broad interest among biochemists and chemists. This report discusses several quantitative techniques to handle and use NO gas that has been delivered from compressed cylinders. The focus is on techniques that minimize and avoid the presence of oxygen impurities, which when present, result in the generation of other nitrogen oxides (NO x). These NO x species typically exhibit different reactivity, and unless removed or quantified, their presence will complicate studies focusing on the reactions caused by NO itself.