nicotine oxidation?

[Zorg]

I am a 'born-again vaper' (I won't mind an occasional 'Welcome back to the flock, Sister, or things of that nature ).

Thing is, the learning curve looks even more challenging now than it did 6 years ago when I first joined ECF.

So I hope it's okay if I post questions in the Newbie Forum since it seems I am also a 'born-again newbie'.

I was reading an article in the DIY forum by someone who apparently has 2 PhDs in Chemistry and Physics (no aspersions, mind you; I'm Totally grateful for you Gurus, Veterans, Masters, and Vape Lords without whom I and many others would be lost).

I used to make my own e-juice — one tobacco flavor and no nic (boring right?). I'm trying to throw some together real quick just for now (I believe in your land you call it 'shake and vape’?) and need to use a bit of nicotine because I'm just coming off smoking.

In addition to head space (head room?), chemical reactions, and other esoteric aspects of making e-juice that went completely over my head, so to speak, the article mentioned nicotine becoming oxidized (giving it a brownish tint).

The nicotine I've had in the fridge has a very faint tan tint.
My question is: Is it dangerous? weakened? useless? Or all or none of the above? In other words, can or should I use it?

Also: Should I have posted this in a different forum?
Also: Is it a faux pas to post the same question in two different forums?

Thanks for your help.
~ Zorg

 

[Hawise]

Welcome back, pseudo-newbie. It's fine to post in this forum if you're feeling newbieish and you're still able to. It would also be fine to post a question like this in the DIY forum:

DIY E-Liquid

What is not considered fine is posting the same question in more than one place.

Your nicotine is also fine. It's possible it's weakened very slightly or tastes a little stronger, but a 'faint tan tint' isn't something that causes the experienced among us any distress.

Oxidation can weaken the nicotine and cause a stronger, peppery, flavour, but it doesn't tend to be dangerous. Whenever anyone asks whether they should use their oxidized nicotine (and people ask quite frequently), the usual recommendation is to try it out and see what it's like. I'd only change that advice if the nicotine had actually been contaminated in some way.

 

[suprtrkr]

You've gotten the right of it from @Hawise Give it a try and see. If it's faint tan, you should be OK. It gets pretty dark brown when it's over the line.

 

[Storm52]

Welcome back to the flock, sister. Shake and bake, and as has been said, you are good to go.

 

[Rossum]

The nicotine I've had in the fridge has a very faint tan tint.
My question is: Is it dangerous? weakened? useless? Or all or none of the above? In other words, can or should I use it?

What strength is this nic?

Dangerous: No.

Weakened: Probably not enough to make a difference. A very small amount of oxidation will darken 100 mg nic base quite substantially. Examples here.

Worst case: It will taste bad.

 

[Susaz]

Dear, welcome. I've come and go 3 times since my join date, so no one is really counting. I'm slowly coming back after 2 years with the stinkies. I don't deserve my 10 year vapeaniversary next year.

 

[Letitia]

Welcome back! mix up a 10ml unflavored base, if nic tastes fine add flavor.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

I concur with the rest of the posters here. If your nic was bad you could smell it(often without the cap even being open) and it's a really offensive smell. One you probably would not soon forget.

 

[sonicbomb]

@Zorg the link that Rossum posted is what you need. Hard data based on actual real world testing devoid of gobbldygook.

Nic Base Storage: Freezer vs. Room Temp Experiment

 

[zoiDman]

I am a 'born-again vaper' (I won't mind an occasional 'Welcome back to the flock, Sister, or things of that nature ).

Thing is, the learning curve looks even more challenging now than it did 6 years ago when I first joined ECF.

So I hope it's okay if I post questions in the Newbie Forum since it seems I am also a 'born-again newbie'.

I was reading an article in the DIY forum by someone who apparently has 2 PhDs in Chemistry and Physics (no aspersions, mind you; I'm Totally grateful for you Gurus, Veterans, Masters, and Vape Lords without whom I and many others would be lost).

I used to make my own e-juice — one tobacco flavor and no nic (boring right?). I'm trying to throw some together real quick just for now (I believe in your land you call it 'shake and vape’?) and need to use a bit of nicotine because I'm just coming off smoking.

In addition to head space (head room?), chemical reactions, and other esoteric aspects of making e-juice that went completely over my head, so to speak, the article mentioned nicotine becoming oxidized (giving it a brownish tint).

The nicotine I've had in the fridge has a very faint tan tint.
My question is: Is it dangerous? weakened? useless? Or all or none of the above? In other words, can or should I use it?

Also: Should I have posted this in a different forum?
Also: Is it a faux pas to post the same question in two different forums?

Thanks for your help.
~ Zorg

Maybe I missed it?

But How Old is the Nicotine?

And what type of Container was it Stored In?

 

[ilporcupine]

 

[Zorg]

(re 'welcome back' )
Cool! Thanks, ilporcupine. Is that John Sebastian, do you think? (could be Randy Newman ?)
thanks.
~ Zorg

 

[Baditude]

Is that John Sebastian, do you think? (could be Randy Newman ?)
thanks.

John Sebastian of the Lovin' Spoonful.

 

[nati]

interesting read

 

[Zorg]

Maybe I missed it?
But How Old is the Nicotine? And what type of Container was it Stored In?

Not sure exactly how old but definitely several years. It's in a 120ml 'standard' (milky white colored) plastic container — the type of plastic that flavorings and e-liquids sometimes come in.

thanks
~ Zorg

 

[Zorg]

...I don't deserve my 10 year vapeaniversary next year.

Of course you do, Susaz. 'Cause you keep coming back, right?

~ Zorg

 

[vapdivrr]

Yes, use that nic and don't be so quick to lower to zero again, we want you here.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[stols001]

Welcome back and yes, the advice you've been given is good. Dilute to a small percentage is what I would do (whatever I wanted my final nic to be) and if it tastes okay and smells okay well, it's probably just darkened and in a useable state.

It's mostly recommended to keep nic in a freezer if storing for long periods and a fridge with whatever opened amount you are using. So, definitely (once you've determined if it's okay or not, freeze some (if it's a lot) and refrigerate the rest and keep away from light, etc.

Welcome back.
Anna

 

[Zorg]

What strength is this nic? Dangerous: No. ...Worst case: It will taste bad.

Thanks very much, Rossum. Your experiment and pics are excellent. It's really helpful to be able to visualize what you're talking about — I wouldn't have imagined just how dark brown the nicotine could get.
So, the nicotine I have really is just barely tinted (I guess that's due also to the much lower strength which is 36mg/ml — 3.6%) .

It doesn't smell bad (as mentioned by Sugar_and_Spice). So, since it's not dangerous, I think I'll go mix up a 10 mL batch (as suggested by Letitia).

Thank you all for your help and generosity.

~ Zorg

 

[zoiDman]

Not sure exactly how old but definitely several years. It's in a 120ml 'standard' (milky white colored) plastic container — the type of plastic that flavorings and e-liquids sometimes come in.

thanks
~ Zorg

If it was me, I would Order 250ml of New Nicotine Base as well as a 250ml or Two 125ml Boston Round Glass Bottle with Poly Caps. Then when it arrives, transfer the New Nicotine Base into the Glass Bottle(s) and Toss the Old Nicotine Base you have.

There probably Isn't anything wrong with the Nicotine Base you have. I'm mean, I Don't Think your eyes are going to Fall Out if you use it or something. It's just that Nicotine Base has gotten Very Inexpensive. So I would just Start with some New Nicotine Base.