Do PG, VG, and Nicotine get spoiled?

[John Doh]

I'm not asking about their expiration dates and/or recommended shelf lives. I see many comments like "it should be okay up to such and such years", but like many food products, these liquids perhaps may be used safely well after the recommended shelf lives. I'm relatively new to vaping and I got a bottle of 100mg/ml nicotine that's about four years old from my friend just to get started. It's been about two weeks, and I haven't really experienced any adverse effects of this "old" nicotine. I know oxidization occurs, which is simple chemistry, but what are real possible adverse side effects of these liquids going bad anyway? Do they even get spoiled?

I guess I could go order a new bottle of pure or diluted nicotine just to be on the safe side, but I have to go through a lot of red tapes due to local regulations and stuff.

 

[crxess]

All things degrade over time.
Keep PG/VG Cool - 2yr cycle
Nic in Freezer Sealed tight, minimal air space - 5 yrs+ - Still usable but may weaken and turn yellowish
I'm hoping for 10 in unopened containers as I over purchased compared to my current usage.

 

[John Doh]

All things degrade over time.
Keep PG/VG Cool - 2yr cycle
Nic in Freezer Sealed tight, minimal air space - 5 yrs+ - Still usable but may weaken and turn yellowish
I'm hoping for 10 in unopened containers as I over purchased compared to my current usage.

I know degrading process starts immediately, but what is the basis for the time periods given? With foods and health products, it's usually "meh, let's just say it's okay to use this thing up to 2 years", which is often arbitrary. Although, I'll probably end up buying new ones since I don't want to be risking my health with these stuff.

 

[crxess]

Use = Open
Sell by = Standing Shelf life - usually a counter or open cooling shelving in the store.
PG and VG Sealed and stored in a Cool place should increase life. After opening, I place remaining in a Refrigerator.
Keeping Nicotine in a Freezer Slows molecular activity, decreasing degradation. Nic in PG does not Freeze, unless you go Cold Storage/commercial.

Your probable to new to all this to go worrying to much yet.
Spend some time searching and visit the DIY section of ECF.

There are people who have already produced some decent Storage data. I have Nicotine going on 3 years.
my PG/VG never last that long.

 

[Canadian_Vaper]

I know VG has about a 2 year shelf life, I've used it after that with no real difference but I kept it stored in dark area...

Nicotine will go yellow as it oxidizes, at that point it's all about the flavor, if you don't like the flavor throw it out.

Depending where you live nicotine is usually pretty cheap, at that age and not knowing how it was stored I'd probably just get a new bottle...

 

[Katya]

Hi, John. Our resident chemists (but mostly our DIY guru @Kurt) has tested his 5-year-old nic for potency and says it seems to be fine, but it has been stored in his freezer in opaque glass bottles. Since your nic base is already 4 years old and you don't know for sure how it has been stored, proceed with caution. It may be severely degraded and oxidized and probably lost some of its potency. Proceed with caution. Also, read Kurt's posts about nicotine--he's written extensively and with authority on the subject.

A lot of questions here. I'll try to address them all.

#1: My opinion has not changed...and neither has the nic that has been in my freezer for almost 6 years. As far as I can tell.

#2: Freezer slows or stops pretty much any reaction we would be concerned about. So breakdown of VG included. I have not tested my ~6 year old nic to see if the VG is still stable, but I have no reason, either in experience or from my own knowledge, to believe otherwise.

#3 20 years is a long time, but I strongly suspect your nic will be fine. PG nic in the freezer is more liquid, so oxidation may be present after 20 years. But you are asking me to predict a very extreme amount of time when there is no data currently, so YMMV.

#4 What are my thoughts on which factor? I guess keep your nic cold and it will last for a long time. If preservation of nic is the highest priority, then make enough to vape for a few weeks fresh, and leave the rest stored, as concentrated as possible, without water or flavors added. Even at room temp, VG nic does not oxidize quickly. I have a small bottle of unflavored 100 mg VG nic out for months without much changed, as long as it is in dark glass.

You say: "Breakdown large bottles of 100mg nic base into 250 or maybe 500ml amber bottles. Fill as much as possible so there is as little of oxygen as possible. Literally buy a packaging system for vacuum sealing each bottle just as they do with meats and other products."

250 mL bottles are too big for me for storage, unless that is all I have and the mic is simply waiting for more available small bottles to fill for the freezer. I use 50 mL glass bottles, so I only have at most 50 mL or so out for mixing at a given time. I do not fill to the rim, since warming VG causes it to expand. I've filled bottles in my cold kitchen in the winter, to the rim, and they leaked when I brought them out into my warm office in the summer. A few mL of head space is best, IMHO. The amount of O2 is not significant here, and moot if frozen or opened for mixing. Vacuum sealing is fine, but it will not protect against O2, which will diffuse through the plastic over time. It is a good idea in case of breakage during storing, however. Broken glass and 100 mg nic do not mix well if you are exposed to them.

Hope this helps!

Get a fresh bottle and store it the freezer just to be safe. Nude Nicotine sells nic base already prepackaged (with Argon gas) for long-term storage. Visit their forum and read about safe handling and storing you nic. You can also request a free sample (15 ml) of your desired blend and strength--just pay 2 bucks for shipping.

Nicotine Sample Request - Nude Nicotine

 

[sofarsogood]

The minimum amounts of PG and VG I found to buy are a gallon each ($40 total). It should take 3 years to use them up. I believe they will be fine for that time stored at room temperature but it's no disaster if they don't. Nic is more important in case of government interference. I believe the nic will be good for 10 years in the freezer in amber glass bottles and may be longer. Notice I said that is what I 'believe'.

 

[John Doh]

Well thanks for all the detailed info everyone. The thing is I don't even know if the nicotine has gone bad (by its taste or smell) since I've never tried vaping using "fresh" nicotine. I've decided to get a new bottle of nicotine, as I figured all this worrying isn't worth too much for my time and money.

 

[Jorge22]

PG and VG should last their recommended shelf lives if kept locked and only used when you really use them (I noticed somebody in a forum saying VG would grow bacteria within 3 months after opening the bottle but I really think that's bull). Nicotine in PG - keep it in a cool, dark place and don't open it before you're going to use it and I believe it should last a lot. If your wife (in case you have one) doesn't mind you keeping it in the freezer, it's a good move. If you can't store it in the freezer, it may not last as long but it should still last much longer than what is said in the expiration date. If you have VG nic, don't take chances, always look at the expiration date.