Acrolein – more research is needed?

[Alien Traveler]

Neighboring thread reminded me about a mystery I have no explanation for.

From Wiki:

VG boiling point: 290 °C

VG->Acrolein reaction starts at 280 °C.

How it can be? VG starts to decompose before it starts to boil? Than vaping of pure VG should be worrisome (?). I spent about 10 minutes googling about this reaction but found nothing useful. However I’ve learnt that there is a number of works on using catalysts to obtain acrolein (useful chemical) from glycerin (often waste). So, it is not so easy to convert all of VG to acrolein by mere heating, but still possible (even without overheating). But how much we can get from vaping VG-rich juices? Is it worrisome on not? Have no idea.


I am talking about VG-rich juices because even small dilution will drop boiling point of juice significantly. I feel safe myself because anyway I vape VG diluted with at least 10% of water or 30% PG. But what about “max VG” juice (whatever it means)? And I am 90% sure that areas of overheating above boiling point exist in a coil chamber.


I am not aware of any research on high-VG juices. I understand that my post is somewhat alarmist, but it better to know, isn’t it?


Disclaimer 1. I am not a chemist.

Disclaimer 2. Acrolein is not carcinogenic and while toxic not very toxic:

Acrolein | Technology Transfer Network Air Toxics Web site | US EPA

 

[Matty316]

I vape 100% VG so I'm pretty interested in this.
If anyone can provide more info on this I'd appreciate it.

 

[LobsterGoD]

One thing that still hasn't been done in any of the studies is measuring the effect of airflow. Obviously the acrolein levels would be diminished greatly or not produced at all when you have your coils nice and soaked and your airflow cranked open. At least that's my way of thinking about it, so i don't worry about it.

 

[roxynoodle]

I'm not a chemist either, but I'm not surprised some degradation can occur before the boiling point is reached. Yes, boiling changes liquid to vapor, but I'm fairly certain matter may begin changing before the boiling point is reached. Any chemists who can chime in?

 

[beckdg]

My joose is about 89% vg.

50% vg nic base @ 10% nic for a total of 5% nic and 45% vg

6% flavor

44% vg

Sometimes a quick blast or two of just 99.5% pure vg for a palette cleanse. But not often.

I don't get acrid tastes.

Tapatyped

 

[LucentShadow]

Not to put our good veteran chemist members on the spot, but I ran a search for acrolein by users DVap and Kurt, and I don't see anything new from them. They never seemed worried about it. I don't know if there are other chemists around here.

Here's a thread that Roly put up about it a couple of years ago:

Glycerine vapor and acrolein - the issues | E-Cigarette Forum

I stay away from setups with poor airflow and/or poor wicking ability, and always add distilled water to my VG. I have been suspicious of RBAs with large atomization chambers and side air holes possibly causing trace amounts of acrolein, as they taste a bit different and cause me sore throats after a couple of hours. Could be something else entirely, though. I just know that I'm very sensitive to the byproducts of setups that aren't fed or cooled ideally.

That said, I wouldn't mind seeing a study on it.

 

[Matty316]

Not to put our good veteran chemist members on the spot, but I ran a search for acrolein by users DVap and Kurt, and I don't see anything new from them. They never seemed worried about it. I don't know if there are other chemists around here.

Here's a thread that Roly put up about it a couple of years ago:

Glycerine vapor and acrolein - the issues | E-Cigarette Forum

I stay away from setups with poor airflow and/or poor wicking ability, and always add distilled water to my VG. I have been suspicious of RBAs with large atomization chambers and side air holes possibly causing trace amounts of acrolein, as they taste a bit different and cause me sore throats after a couple of hours. Could be something else entirely, though. I just know that I'm very sensitive to the byproducts of setups that aren't fed or cooled ideally.

That said, I wouldn't mind seeing a study on it.

Thanks for that link. Think I'll start adding a little distilled water to my liquid just to be sure but I'm pretty confident if any acrolein is being produced it would be at a such low level it would be harmless.

That said I think more research done with more modern RDA's and sub ohm tanks would be good.

 

[silenuz]

I mix at very high vg levels myself, no flavoring or anything and vg based nic. I have been very interested in this myself. Have even debated doing a 70-80% mix for just this reason.

I only remember one thread on this subject and the biggest point I took from it is acrolein is supposed to have a very acrid nasty smell to it. I have yet to run into anything like that myself. But this is definitely something I would love to know more about.