Interesting Info on Nicotine Air Exposure

[Ov3rDoSe]

What Does The Color of My Nicotine Mean? ~ V-eCigs Blog

I've seen quite a few threads with differing opinions on whether exposure to air or light destroys nicotine. I believe I have found a definitive answer for all of you.
Reading through every article on the site, the author seems to be pretty knowledgeable on the subject of vaping, and so I am inclined to believe what his article on nicotine says.

The whole article linked is a good read, but for the impatient ones, the info that pertains here is in the second paragraph from the bottom.

For a very quick summary, it talks about a study on leaving nicotine base in various locations, capped and uncapped, for several months with periodic checks.
Bottom line- A bottle of nicotine, uncapped, left on a sunny window sill only lost 4mg stregth in 4 months!

This makes my storage method (amber bottles, wrapped in towels at the bottom of my deep freeze) sound kind of insane.

 

[Str8vision]

Bottom line- A bottle of nicotine, uncapped, left on a sunny window sill only lost 4mg stregth in 4 months!
This makes my storage method (amber bottles, wrapped in towels at the bottom of my deep freeze) sound kind of insane.

Only until you find that the way you have stored nic preserves it so well you would only see a 4mg drop in strength after several years.

 

[Ov3rDoSe]

Yea, I guess that will come in handy when the vape-ocalypse happens, and I'm storing 8 gallons of the stuff in there to last the rest of my days.

Until that time though, I won't have to postpone a mixing session because I forgot to take more nic out of the freezer

 

[Alien Traveler]

Great news. I am not joking. Good to knew a final judgement.

 

[williebb123]

this was a very good report, i first seen this or one like this where they did the window thing 2yrs ago it was good then too

 

[Nermal]

I'm not sure I would use the word "only" to describe a drop of 4mg in 4 months. Well, that's an absolutely terrible way to store nicotine, but 4mg is a lot. Might depend on the original concentration. I don't think the use of a freezer with or without amber bottles is something to quit doing.

 

[tarkin000]

I believe that blog is referring to the Madvapes test: nicotine-concentration-over-time
If my math is correct, 4mg drop from 35mg to 31mg is 11% - drastic, but not devastating IMHO

 

[AzPlumber]

Didn't read the article because it's well known that light and oxygen will degrade nicotine. The article might mention the rate it degrades but does it say anything about how tasty that 4mg degradation is?

 

[tarkin000]

Didn't read the article because it's well known that light and oxygen will degrade nicotine. The article might mention the rate it degrades but does it say anything about how tasty that 4mg degradation is?

It's just nicotine and PG...how tasty would that be before the test?

 

[AzPlumber]

It's just nicotine and PG...how tasty would that be before the test?

That's exactly my point. Fresh Nicotine in PG or VG has a very slight taste and odor. Oxidized nicotine has a very strong taste and odor, not something most folks want in their flavored e-liquid.

 

[Crunktanium]

That's exactly my point. Fresh Nicotine in PG or VG has a very slight taste and odor. Oxidized nicotine has a very strong taste and odor, not something most folks want in their flavored e-liquid.

Many premium juice vendors don't ship before the product has oxidized so explain why one would be against this?

Maybe you don't like it but for many of us the oxidation process is a signal that it's finally ready. I don't vape clear colorless liquid nor do I inhale clear colorless gasses when it's possible to avoid them. Everyone has a different opinion on what others should like but I only know for certain what I like and nobody else will change that but me.

 

[Ov3rDoSe]

To those who still didn't bother reading the article, the 4mg drop was the most extreme case, and obviously a stupid was to store nicotine.
What the facts from this study suggest, is that the extremes some of us (myself included) go to for storing our nicotine are pointless.
Left in a a cool dry place, i.e the same place we store our flavorings, nicotine base barely degrades, if at all.

I, for one, will be long done a 250ml of 100mg long before an noticeable degradation in strength occurs- when stored in the dark, capped in my tackle box.

As for oxidization- isn't that exactly what happens when we steep our juice and it darkens? (rhetorical..)

I don't think a little bit (if any) pre-oxidization of our nic base would be noticeable if simply stored in our mixing kits instead of the fridge/freezer.
I know many mixers are set in their ways, this was just a PSA

 

[twgbonehead]

Many premium juice vendors don't ship before the product has oxidized so explain why one would be against this?

Maybe you don't like it but for many of us the oxidation process is a signal that it's finally ready. I don't vape clear colorless liquid nor do I inhale clear colorless gasses when it's possible to avoid them. Everyone has a different opinion on what others should like but I only know for certain what I like and nobody else will change that but me.

Not for me. Perhaps you like a very strong taste and throat hit, but I like my nic un-burnt. Oxidation is something I avoid; whether it's flavors or nicotine. I think it greatly degrades both of them.

 

[Jimi D.]

Through experience, I had some finished juice that tasted just fine after 2 years. I've ruined 100 mg nic base from leaving it in a cool dark cabinet in 2-3 months. I've had cleaner extractions that never oxidized. It's all in the quality and potency that will give you different results.

 

[Exchaner]

If Nic can lose 4mg in three months, then I am in trouble. I only vape 6mg.

 

[tarkin000]

If Nic can lose 4mg in three months, then I am in trouble. I only vape 6mg.

It was a 4mg drop from 35mg to 31mg. I think it's more of a percentage thing. Circa 11% in 4 months.

I think in your case it would go from 6mg to circa 5.3mg. If you left the bottle open on a window sill.

 

[Crunktanium]

Actually nic oxidizes slower at lower concentrations. So 100mg should see a much higher percentage loss and lower should see less. I have never seen a store that refrigerates juice even those who barely sell any. And then there are the companies who buy Dekang or Hangsen in bulk and ship it on a slow boat from China. Just think how hot that juice gets in the middle of summer. I would feel much better about what I make even if it was a year old. In fact I have juice well over a year old that I still vape from time to time. And yet how many people are vaping year old Blu carts that wonder why many are dried up at the time of purchase.

 

[Alien Traveler]

Everybody seems does not remember an important thing: while vaping we inhale a lot of oxidized nicotine. We just cannot help it. Coil is hot, it vaporizes nicotine, it is mixed with air (30% oxygen)…
So, do not worry, vape happy.

 

[Nermal]

30% oxygen is quite high in this part of New Mexico. Maybe it's the altitude.