I've just started and would like to know if this glycerin is the correct one to use, it doesn't state whether it is vegetable glycerin - I'm worried it may by the petrochemically derived glycerin.
I wouldn't use that glycerin. You want usp grade vegetable glycerin that's palm derived and minimum 99.7% purity. Try a site that sells flavors or get essential depot brand from Amazon.
> or get essential depot brand from Amazon.
Yeah, I've just stuck with them over the years. Fast delivery and cheap enough.
The only thing I could say is that I've had luck in a pinch at local Rite-Aids/Pharmacies having the proper VG before. Obviously you're paying a fair bit more per/oz. in that situation...
>usp grade
So this is 'BP grade' which is the British equivilant - however it just doesn't say anywhere on it that it's vegetable derived...
Hi, chemist here. Technically speaking, it doesn't matter whether your glycerin is vegetable-derived or produced from another method, as long as it is pure, and free of contaminants. Glycerin is glycerin. If in this case, this glycerin claims to be BP (British Pharmacopoeia)-standard certified, the package even suggests it is safe for consumption, and you are willing to trust that, then go ahead and use it!
If you want to be even more sure, you can hunt around the label to see if they have stated its purity, or look around the internet for its MSDS (material safety data sheet), where they usually declare what goes into it.
But couldn't this product contain other chemicals depending on it's intended use? Or does the 'BP' certification guarantee that it's pure Vegetable Glycerin?
Not tryna be rude bc you make a great point about USP/ BP grade products being the right kind to use, but soy or coconut based VG both seem to have slightly unique tastes when used in vape juice (soy based VG tastes flat out disgusting lol, I haven't bothered to try coconut but it's probably coconutty tasting, supposedly sweeter as well). Rapeseed based VG is pretty common in Europe/ UK, i havent found any stateside. IIRC most VG is palm, rapeseed or soy based, but I prefer companies that are transparent about it. Friend & I got soy based usp-claimed VG & didn't know why it was so disgusting until we emailed the company about it.
EDIT- I think I spoke too soon, sounds like the soy based VG I tried could have been mislabeled or was from an unreliable source
It shouldn't if the glycerin is pure, which in OP's case, the BP standard ensures. If you truly are able to "taste" a difference in glycerin from different sources, then trust that the glycerin you're getting/don't like getting isn't pure.
I saw you mentioned the VG you like is BP, palm-derived, but do you know if the coconut/soy one you dislike claims to be BP/USP standard?
You make a great point & considering the soy based VG I tried was from a friend, that could be the culprit, in which case I apologize for not triple checking that before I replied to you! I did just now ask my friend & she can't find her bottle or order receipt so I guess I'll never be able to say for 100% certain. It was a year or more ago, but she did remind me that I had approved the item she bought, so I would lean toward saying it had at least claimed to be USP/ BP lol & again told us via email that it was USP soy based, but again without knowing where we originally got it, we can't actually confirm if they just claimed that. Sounds like the most logical explanation here. We ended up buying her some VG from BCF & using the weird tasting stuff for DIY skincare/ hair stuff, so it wasn't a total loss 😊
I did just find a site with soy-based VG for $14.99 a gallon that's USP/BP grade & the website even offers a COA (certificate of analysis); they sell their palm-based VG for $28.99 a gallon. Website is glycerinsupplier.com if anyone is interested. I'd love to do a comparison of the 2 kinds, but I have way too much VG on hand for now
not trying to spam you, however I did just find a very interesting post about someone talking about nasty USP based coconut VG that they had tried, so maybe that's wtf happened with our USP based soy VG tasting bad, aka an unreliable source.
If anyone is interested, this link offers their recommendation after personally trying it & gives their US-based source for $29.99 a gallon USP coconut-based VG. the site also offers 41oz glass bottles for $12.50: https://vapingunderground.com/threads/finally-found-a-great-coconut-based-vg.556897/
I work for a company that manufactures tons of eliquid for multiple companies. Its completely safe to use, It's BP which is virtually the same as USP, this means it has high purity levels.
Almost all of the glycerin in circulation is derived from palm as other methods of production are more costly, youd be hard pressed to find any glycerin derived from animals in circulation. Regardless of the source the end product is the same, glycerin.
Industrial glycerin which isnt USP is noticable as it has a film on the upper layer that looks either like dust, or oil.
So I did some investigation. It's intended for a wide variety of external use from treating burns to hair treatment. Glycerin is a sugar alcohol derived from animal products, plants or petroleum. Vegetable glycerin is the variant made from plant oils.
If a product only says Glycerin with no data sheet available, then the composition within could contain various other chemicals to elevate the effectiveness of it's intended use and also trace elements of toxic chemicals from petroleum derived glycerin, depending on the purification process.
The composition of this product is a big question mark and you'll be lucky to not end up in a hospital if you tried to vape it.
>The composition of this product is a big question mark and you'll be lucky to not end up in a hospital if you tried to vape it.
but the 'BP' ensures it's purity, apparently.