Systems and methods for generation of hyperpolarized compounds using parahydrogen

A system for generating a hyperpolarized target compound, the system comprising:

• a hydrogenation device configured to generate a parahydrogenated solution by mixing a solvent, parahydrogen gas, and a precursor of the target compound, the precursor comprising an unsaturated chemical bond;
• a polarization device configured to generate a polarized solution containing the hyperpolarized target compound using the parahydrogenated solution, the polarization device comprising:
• (a) a polarization chamber configured to receive the parahydrogenated solution, the polarization chamber including a polarization region having a volume of at least 10 milliliters (mL);
• (b) one or more radiofrequency (RF) coils disposed around the polarization region of the polarization chamber;
• and
• (c) a magnetic field source disposed around the polarization region of the polarization chamber and configured to provide a mean magnetic field strength of at most 200 millitesla (mT);
• an RF waveform generator coupled to the one or more RF coils of the polarization device, the RF waveform generator configurable to apply a polarization transfer waveform to the one or more RF coils for a predetermined period of time, and wherein the polarization transfer RF waveform comprises at least one of:
• a frequency that is substantially constant during the period of time,
• a frequency that varies substantially linearly during the period of time,
• an amplitude that is substantially constant during the period of time, or
• an amplitude that varies substantially linearly over the period of time;
• and
• a purification system configured to separate a purified fraction from the polarized solution.