Any interest in determining nicotine--by DVAP

[DVap]

Hi all.

I've seen a few posts here and there in the DIY e-liquid section from folks asking if there is a way to determine if the bulk (500 mL - 1000 mL) e-liquids contain the advertised concentration of nicotine.

There are many way, most of them far outside the reach of DIY'ers. These is one very accurate way within the reach of DIY'ers. I've been a chemist for 22 years, and if there's interest, I'll be happy to detail how to do it.

Post if you're interested.

[SLDS181]

I'm sure theres lots of interest

[isande]

I'm interested.

--K

[wasdiscovered]

The only people that might not be interested are the people we are buying from.

[KevinD872]

I'm sure I'm speaking for all DIYers when I say 'of course we are interested!'

It'd also be nice to know exactly how much we absorb per puff or cartridge of juice. There are estimates, but nobody seems to be really sure other than that the absorption rate is apparently less than regular smoking. I have heard 1 mg absorbed per "real" cigarette but that they can actually contain as much as 8 mg per cig. So a pack & a half per day smoker probably gets about 30 mg of nicotine per day.

Using 11 mg juice and using an average of say, 3 carts per day at 15 drops per cart = 45 drops (approx). It's been said that 20 drops is approx. 1 ml, so that means I probably take in about 24.5 mg per day. But how much do I REALLY absorb? This doesn't really matter, and most would say to vape as much as you want to make you happy, which is fine with me. But it would still be nice to know.

[KevinD872]

The only people that might not be interested are the people we are buying from.

Yeah.... I'm sure! lol

[Richie G]

If I may answer your question with a question of my own, DVap...

Have you performed this test on your liquid and if so, what were the results?

[need_2quit]

count me in, if it doesn't involve a lot of chemicals and lab equipment. I want to diy juice from tobacco and to be safe to use, I'd want to know how much nic is in it.

appreciate the offer

[DVap]

I tested on some of that Chinese "Marb/USA Blend" we've all seen. It was spec'ed at 18 mg, it came out so close to 18 mg as to be no difference. I knew the procedure would work.. I was just surprised to see how well those Chinese folks nailed it.

Right now, I'm cursing. I had the whole procedure typed out, and I hit the wrong key and sent it all to /dev/null.

I'll redo it within a day, but for a taste, here's the equipment list. Nothing here that should get anyone placed on any government watch lists, we're e-smokers, we're already on their watch lists anyway.

1. 50 mL burette w/stopcock, 0.1 ml subdivisions
(can be had for under $20).
2. 250 mL erlenmeyer flask (or suitably sized glass container).
3. 25 mL graduated cylinder, 0.5 ml subdivisions.
(under $10 on eBay or elsewhere)
4. 0.1% bromothymol blue, aqueous solution.
(around $5, they'll sell it to anyone, it's in kiddie science kits).
5. 1000 mL volumetric flask (or 1L plastic bottle marked with a Sharpie)
6. 0.1N HCl solution, 1 liter (you make this from 32% muriatic acid)
7. Distilled water, 1 gallon.

[DVap]

Kevin, I can't help with the absorption/vape. That sort of testing is far outside my expertise.

The only thing I can point to is a bunch of research that indicates that smokers do a remarkable job at self-maintaining their desired nicotine levels.