My DIY vaping adventures initiated a few months ago. I have a background in chemistry and prepared a calculation sheet for preparing nicotine salt from freebase nicotine, based on the 2015 patent by Bowen and figured other people might benefit from it.
I've personally been experimenting with lactic acid, as its reported to be about as prevalent as benzoic acid. I've verified the dissolution of salicylic acid in pure PG, but not for the other acids mentioned.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wOnVZRnyZocN4BcEtsWkI4FHiuv3x3fD/view?usp=sharing
Which acid do they use to make "smooth" nic salt?
NicSalt-B (Nicotine benzoate salt) - is most similar to what Juul uses. Has a bit of a bite to it if that makes sense.
NicSalt-S (Nicotine salicylate salt) - is the "smoothest" form of Nicsalts.
NicSalt-M (Nicotine malate salt) - is typically used for when people want a throat hit similar to a cigarette.
If you're looking for smoothness try to source NicSalt E-Juice that is mixed with Nicotine salicylate salt (smooth)
Thank you for this. I had used some PurNic Smooth and enjoyed that and my recent venture in figuring out what was in disposables, I was told that many use "smooth" salt nic. I might just try this.
So theoretically, is it possible for me to add the specified amount of acid to a new opened bottle of freebase liquid and shake it like hell? What's your recommended acid for doing this (and maybe what's the industry standard of doing so).
Using only 50% of the required acid, is it theoretically possible to only convert half of the freebase nic and ends up with 50:50 salt:freebase liquid? I'm thinking of getting the best of both world, the increased bioavailability of salt and freebase throat hit.
Thanks!
Hi. IMHO, I‘d just buy freebase if you want freebase and nic salt if you want nic salt. Sure you can DIY it, but why if it’s available. It’s one more thing that you can royally mess up - really not worth it imho.
I agree if we're talking about DIY from scratch, however I'm thinking of converting commercial freebase juice
Mind that contrary to many claims online, there is no actual chemical reaction taking place. I've seen many incorrect representations of the structural form of nic salt. The acid is merely lowering the pH of the eliquid while also supplying the hydrogen for protonation of the nicotine. You could try to add half of the recommended amount of acid, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you end up with 50:50 salt:freebase (bc the pH scale is not linear, but logarithmic)
Huh TIL, I always thought that nic salt are similar to drugs where the drugs bind into salt molecule (i.e. DXM freebase vs DXM HBr). To actually what makes nic salt feels smoother is the pH of the aerosolized e-juice?
Yes, its just the pH. I was trying to find a nice representation of it, but the internet is literally littered with incorrect representations..
If you want to see/know, search for salt on the following page: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Nicotine
The picture below it shown the structure of nicotine benzoate. Note rge positive charge and extra hydrogen on the right-most Nitrogen. This isn't present in freebase nicotine.
Anything that's undissolved is visible by eye and you could even transfer the liquid to a second container to remove it. If you go for only q0% of the value I doubt that you'll reach the desired effect as the pH of the solution may not be lowered enough. It will however ensure dissolution on heating. Best test with some base liquid first before wasting nicotine and/or aroma.