Will nicotine become more harmful over long periods of time in the freezer?

[rokyo87]

I stored my unflavoured 72mg/ml nicotine VG base in amber bottles into the freezer (-18 °C). How long is the shelf life? Does nicotine become more toxic when oxidized and over the long periods of time in the freezer? Does it become maybe even carcinogenic? Is this a safe way for storing nicotine bases?

I am asking because change of colour and taste of nicotine worries me. I don't believe peppery taste and yellow/brown/red color of nicotine is perfectly normal. Something is obviously changed in nicotine molecular composition.

 

[r77r7r]

Well, buy it fresh every few mths like me. Or, further your education on the subject perhaps on a site that discusses chemicals and chemical decomposition.

 

[bombastinator]

Unknown. At least by me. Also the definition of long may need to be gotten into. Ive had some nic in the freezer for near a year now and its still dead clear

 

[stols001]

No one can say exactly how long nicotine will last frozen, and there are folks doing experiments regarding color change (I forget the name of the thread). Some of the problem you are seeing could have been the result of poor quality nicotine to begin with or possibly it is reaching the end of its useful life.

I don't believe nicotine becomes "more carcinogenic" as I'm not sure I believe that nicotine is carcinogenic when vaped. It is actually (I think) one of the more benign things in a cigarette, and most of the carcinogen risk comes via combustion anyway.

However, if your nic is tasting "off" to you, then don't use it. I've been doing DIY for over 6 months now and my nic has been fine. I do have a stockpile in the freezer and I expect it to keep for years. I use Nicotine River's nic salts. However, if my stockpile becomes unvapable, then it does, and I will need to figure out something else, etc.

Your mileage may vary, I guess. If you are transferring to smaller bottles, make sure there are no contaminants and etc. as you change the containers, I'd think bacteria and whatnot could potential be a cause of color/taste changes, depending on what color it is going and etc., although if it's been frozen, well... IDK. I would also recommend not using repeated thawing an freezing, if you are. Once a nic bottle is opened it should remain in the fridge, IMO.

Best of luck, don't really know what else to add...

Anna

 

[mattymatt82]

I have heard it becomes less potent over time.

 

[WillyZee]

I'm vaping nicotine that's been frozen for 3 years ... seems exactly the same as when I originally froze it.

I expect this nicotine to last 10, maybe even 20+ years and be perfectly fine for vaping.

I have seen zero documented proof that nicotine goes bad when frozen and properly stored, then again nobody was storing nicotine for vaping 10 years ago.

 

[oplholik]

5-7 years stored in the freezer in dark glass bottles, no worries from all I've ever read about it here.

 

[bombastinator]

I stored my unflavoured 72mg/ml nicotine VG base in amber bottles into the freezer (-18 °C). How long is the shelf life? Does nicotine become more toxic when oxidized and over the long periods of time in the freezer? Does it become maybe even carcinogenic? Is this a safe way for storing nicotine bases?

I am asking because change of colour and taste of nicotine worries me. I don't believe peppery taste and yellow/brown/red color of nicotine is perfectly normal. Something is obviously changed in nicotine molecular composition.

If it turns straw colored and smells like an ashtray it’s breaking down. I’m wondering if your bottles were completely clean though. Iirc nicotine breaks down into several things one of which is a carcinogen.

 

[rokyo87]

If it turns straw colored and smells like an ashtray it’s breaking down. I’m wondering if your bottles were completely clean though. Iirc nicotine breaks down into several things one of which is a carcinogen.

Which nicotine breaks down? And which thing is a carcinogen?

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[stols001]

I would like to know that too, as well. Although, if any stored nic tasted funny/off to me, I'd probably discard it. I'm not yet dealing with 10 year old nicotine though, but there are many vapers who are using more "elderly" nicotine without problems.

I would likely only be concerned if I started getting "off" or "bad" flavors from it, or it started looking really bad. But I would still be interested in that information, and how much of it "breaks down" into a carcinogen, if it's at all available...

Anna

 

[bombastinator]

Which nicotine breaks down? And which thing is a carcinogen?

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Any nicotine. Nicotine is nicotine. I can’t exactly remember exactly which breakdown product it is. It might be in the nicotine wiki. Iirc it was a class 4 carcinogen which isn’t one of the really bad ones. Was enough to make me start storing nicotine base in the freezer though

 

[rokyo87]

Any nicotine. Nicotine is nicotine. I can’t exactly remember exactly which breakdown product it is. It might be in the nicotine wiki. Iirc it was a class 4 carcinogen which isn’t one of the really bad ones. Was enough to make me start storing nicotine base in the freezer though

IARC Group 4 = Probably not carcinogenic to humans. So not carcinogen.

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[Mowgli]

Last I heard from @Kurt , the University Chemistry Professor, his 7 year old nicotine was as fresh and tasty as it was when it was new.
He hasn't posted since last October but search his posts in the nicotine threads and you'll probably find a wealth of useful info re: nicotine
Kurt's forum postings

 

[Mowgli]

Nicotine Comparisons

 

[Lowjumper]

No one knows how long it will last, my oldest is 9 years and no changes.
This may help!
Long Term Nic Storage
Nothing in the Wiki about it changing to a carcinogenic substance.
From the Wiki
On exposure to ultraviolet light or various oxidizing agents, nicotine is converted to nicotine oxide, nicotinic acid (vitamin B3), and methylamine.[115]
Hope this helps!

 

[IDJoel]

This may help!
Long Term Nic Storage

Yep; this was the link I was going to add. The author (@Kurt) of this sticky is the professor @Mowgli mentioned. Besides being an current university chemistry professor; he is also active in vapor safety research. If he says freezing is good enough for him; it is good enough for me!

 

[r77r7r]

Nicotine Comparisons

Somebody best bump that b4 it gets closed I guess. I imagine we'll have future use for it.

 

[classwife]

Moved to DIY -Liquid from General E-Liquid Discussion

good read here :
Long Term Nic Storage

 

[rokyo87]

Thank you folks. I read a lot about nicotine storing in the last couple of days.

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[DaveP]

Lately, I've been considering replacing my two year old liters of nic that's been kept at room temp. Although it has no off taste or objectionable throat hit at 3mg/ml and 9mg/ml mixes I don't like the dark brown color it's developed.

I transferred the opened and the unopened liters to glass bottles last year. It was all the same deep shade of brown. When I bought it two years ago it was clear to very pale yellow looking down into the bottle through the top and completely clear when in an unflavored 50ml mix bottle. Now, after transferring to glass it's all dark brown.

Any suggestions? Should I keep it or trash it?

If I trash it, what's a safe disposal method for 100mg/ml nic? I'd hate to take it to the County recycle center and toss it into a dumpster. I'm not keen on dumping a liter and a half into the ground, although I have woods bordering my property. It wouldn't be good for wildlife.

One disposal method says buy a bag of woodchips and pour it into the bag and let the mix soak into the chips. Double bag the bag of wood chips and then take it to your local recycle center and put it into their hazardous materials disposal bin. That sounds like a good method to me.