So - are we getting it or are we not - nicotine

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Nicotiana Alchemia
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I was limited by having to shoot at 1/20" while being too lazy to tripod my camera. The bottle itself is that somewhat cloudy low-density polyethylene, but I quite assure you, the liquid is crystal clear. :) The color is the main thing, and it comes through pretty true in the photo.

Not the best photo - looks like a foggy day. But I'm sure it looks clear to the eye :)
 
I was limited by having to shoot at 1/20" while being too lazy to tripod my camera. The bottle itself is that somewhat cloudy low-density polyethylene, but I quite assure you, the liquid is crystal clear. :) The color is the main thing, and it comes through pretty true in the photo.

Do you think that is Anatabine ?
 

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Nicotiana Alchemia
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BTW, the previous shot of the 30 mg WTA was mixed up in PG per the sender's request.

I've not posted any alkaloid photos in well over a year. This is 0.465 grams of this weekend's snus alkaloids that I've not mixed up yet. This is my portion. :2cool: It's going into 2:1 VG/PG per my preference and will be good for around 15 mL of 30 mg WTA e-liquid.

snus_alks.jpg
[click to enlarge]

How's that for clarity?
 
BTW, the previous shot of the 30 mg WTA was mixed up in PG per the sender's request.

I've not posted any alkaloid photos in well over a year. This is 0.465 grams of this weekend's snus alkaloids that I've not mixed up yet. This is my portion. :2cool: It's going into 2:1 VG/PG per my preference and will be good for around 15 mL of 30 mg WTA e-liquid.

View attachment 29269
[click to enlarge]

How's that for clarity?

A lot better :)
 

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Nicotiana Alchemia
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The color of the liquid I ended up with is about the same as bobas bounty, which is a lot darker lol.

For an apple -vs- apple comparison, take concentration into account. If I diluted the liquid to 10 mg instead of 30 mg, it would be only very slightly tinted. Note the photo I posted above of the pure alkaloids... they're alkaloids and nothing but alkaloids, and at 0.465 grams, pretty damned dangerous as photographed.
 
For an apple -vs- apple comparison, take concentration into account. If I diluted the liquid to 10 mg instead of 30 mg, it would be only very slightly tinted. Note the photo I posted above of the pure alkaloids... they're alkaloids and nothing but alkaloids, and at 0.465 grams, pretty damned dangerous as photographed.

Interestingly, oxidised nicotine (by air contact) is a very similar color; but in the case of freshly extracted, most likely Anatabine with perhaps contributions from others.

ps: were those links i posted earlier of any interest ?
 

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Nicotiana Alchemia
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Those links contain the sort of stuff I've got in various references scattered all over the place (though, generally the nature of the most of the materials referenced in the link are most decidedly outside of my area of interest). Call it one more note that might come in handy some day. :)

There's a whole arena of techniques that involve isolating salts since they form crystalline solids which can be isolated/purified via such tricks as, for example, recrystallization (where one takes advantage of free solubility in the appropriate hot solvent and only minimal solubility in the same cold solvent).
 
Those links contain the sort of stuff I've got in various references scattered all over the place (though, generally the nature of the most of the materials referenced in the link are most decidedly outside of my area of interest). Call it one more note that might come in handy some day. :)

There's a whole arena of techniques that involve isolating salts since they form crystalline solids which can be isolated/purified via such tricks as, for example, recrystallization (where one takes advantage of free solubility in the appropriate hot solvent and only minimal solubility in the same cold solvent).

I know what you mean.

Any plans to try a cheaper solvent, see if it measures up ?
 

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Nicotiana Alchemia
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Interestingly, oxidised nicotine (by air contact) is a very similar color; but in the case of freshly extracted, most likely Anatabine with perhaps contributions from others.

ps: were those links i posted earlier of any interest ?

I would be more likely to suspect the color is mostly due to natural nicotine oxidation products.
 

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Nicotiana Alchemia
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I know what you mean.

Any plans to try a cheaper solvent, see if it measures up ?

In a word, yes.

I have the advantage of having the means to purify the alkaloids, and thus to check the pH dependent partitioning between water and whatever solvent I might be evaluating.

The neat thing is, I can take the alkaloids and shake with solvent and basic water... and I can see the water layer turn clear and the solvent layer turn yellow.. then I acidify and shake again and I can watch the solvent layer go clear and the water layer go yellow.
 
In a word, yes.

I have the advantage of having the means to purify the alkaloids, and thus to check the pH dependent partitioning between water and whatever solvent I might be evaluating.

The neat thing is, I can take the alkaloids and shake with solvent and basic water... and I can see the water layer turn clear and the solvent layer turn yellow.. then I acidify and shake again and I can watch the solvent layer go clear and the water layer go yellow.

Very reassuring :) Seems the alkaloids transfer efficiently and swiftly.

Anatabine is a deep yellow color.

If it is oxidised nicotine, is that not a worry, or do these just behave the same wrt brain receptors?
 

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Nicotiana Alchemia
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Very reassuring :) Seems the alkaloids transfer efficiently and swiftly.

Anatabine is a deep yellow color.

If it is oxidised nicotine, is that not a worry, or do these just behave the same wrt brain receptors?

Nicotine wants to oxidise... the kinetics say it will be so.

Recall Exo's photo of unvaped vs autovaped eliquid.
 
Nicotine wants to oxidise... the kinetics say it will be so.

Recall Exo's photo of unvaped vs autovaped eliquid.

I have some year + old liquid (70mg) that is fairly yellow now but still less than your pic.

The question is : If it is oxidised nicotine, is that not a worry, or do these just behave the same wrt brain receptors?

edit : I guess you're saying 'yes' - it is likely oxidised in the atomiser / smouldering ciggy too.

Or it takes only a small percentage of the nic to be oxidised to give a distinct color, so no worries as most is still fine ?
 
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"autovaped" ??? I don't recall this term being used. Please explain.

Exo's robot vaper - all mechano, timer switches and electric pumps. Could vape 24/7 :)

It proved my theory that VG decomposition is real and can cause atomiser deposit buildup, among other things. I think that was 90%VG 10%water. I don't think PEG got tried yet.
 
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Nicotiana Alchemia
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I have some year + old liquid (70mg) that is fairly yellow now but still less than your pic.

The question is : If it is oxidised nicotine, is that not a worry, or do these just behave the same wrt brain receptors?

edit : I guess you're saying 'yes' - it is likely oxidised in the atomiser / smouldering ciggy too.

Or it takes only a small percentage of the nic to be oxidised to give a distinct color, so no worries as most is still fine ?

Most is fine. Nicotine is, after all, extracted from tobacco in large quantity and purified (vacuum distillation, etc) all the time.

The color of WTA isolate likely arises from a combination of a lot of individual compounds, many of which arise from the typical flue-curing process, These should no more be considered defects than, for example, the ester profile of a 68F fermented ale... you wouldn't want these esters in your lager (and you'd ferment in the 40's to preclude them), but your ale wouldn't be ale without them.
 
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