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WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.
WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.
What is Tobacco Free Nicotine?

What is Tobacco Free Nicotine?

Nowadays most of the e-liquids are manufactured with the use of tobacco nicotine, however, scientists can now produce pure nicotine without the use of tobacco in the laboratory environment.


Synthetic/non-tobacco nicotine is not obtained from tobacco leaves, stems, tobacco extract or post-production tobacco waste. Synthetic nicotine/tobacco-free nicotine is an artificial replica of traditional nicotine derived from tobacco, but it is manufactured using chemicals that do not contain any tobacco plants.

 

Freeman Vape Juice will soon switch to this new type of nicotine and here it's everything about it. Keep on reading to learn all about TFN Vape Juice.

What are the benefits?

First of all let's start with my favorite part, what are the benefits and why is it not only safer but over all better than regular nicotine most brands use.

– Dramatically reduced odor and harshness profile.

– The flavor takes the center stage.

 – Base starter material is not derived from tobacco.

– All ingredients purchased from accredited suppliers.

– Manufactured to exceed USP and EP Grade requirements.

– Verifiable synthetic ‘S’ and ‘R-S’ nicotine signatures.

– Same satisfaction for adult smokers as other nicotine.

– Dramatically reduced odor and harshness profile.

What is Tobacco nicotine?

Nicotine
Molecule of nicotine

Nicotine is a molecule, alkaloid, naturally produced by some Solanaceae, a family that not only comprises tobacco but also chili peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants or petunia. Among those plants, tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) is the one of the richest in nicotine with 8 to 14%, and it is the reason why it has been used, dried, and combusted in cigarettes.

Nicotine and tobacco have gone hand in hand for more than a hundred of years. When smoked nicotine causes psychological stimulus for smokers which makes it addictive. In combusted cigarettes, tobacco leaves have primarily been used without any other treatment than drying. Bright tobacco leaf are ready for harvest when they turn yellow-green, their sugar content is at its maximum and they will cure to a deep golden color with mild taste. Tobacco companies have worked on this taste with additives, whose controversial use is regarded as an enhancer of cigarettes’ addictiveness.

Nicotine has also been used as an insecticide after WWII but its use has declined since other cheaper molecules became available from the chemical engineering industry.

Liquid nicotine extracted from plants

In e-liquids, one no longer uses infused leaves of tobacco but rather a solution of liquid nicotine, a product that is generally obtained from tobacco leaves.

Nicotine levorotatory (S) and detrorotatory (R) isomers
Nicotine levorotatory (S) and detrorotatory (R) enantiomers

Nicotine,  3-[1-Methylpyrrolidin-2-yl]pyridine, contains what chemists call a chiral carbon. Such molecules usually have two non-superposable structures, called enantiomers. They have the same chemical formula but the position of their atoms can differ and make the two molecules non superposable, like the right and left hands; mirror images of each other or enantiomers. In chemistry, the two enantiomers are the S- and R-nicotine.

S- and R- nicotine can be distinguished optically because S-nicotine rotates plane-polarized light to the left (levorotatory) and R- to the right (dextrorotatory). Last basic notion of stereochemistry, a mixture where the two enantiomers co-exist in a 1:1 ratio is termed racemic (the deviation of plane-polarized light is zero). In the case of nicotine, the racemic mixture would be termed RS-nicotine.

Alkaloids extracted from N. tobacum (from Leete, E.; Mueller, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1982, 104, 6440–6444.
Alkaloids extracted from N. tabacum [1]. See in text for more details.
In fresh N. tabacum, the alkaloid cortege typically consists of 93% S-nicotine1, 3.9% S-anatabine 2, 2.4% S-nornicotine3, and 0.5% S-anabasine[1].

 

Alkaloids extraction is achieved from crushed crops with organic solvents and distillation. Nicotine and the alkaloids are soluble in solvents such as alcohol, chloroform, ether, petroleum ether, kerosene, and water. Micro-wave heating and mixtures of solvents can be used to increase nicotine extract yield and reduce extraction time and its purity is guaranteed to reach pharmaceutic grade, 99.9%.

Another method utilizes salt processing and turn the liquid into a sulfate salt. Such method requires a bleaching agent to get rid of the impurities. The sulfate salt is then turned back into a useable form with a reagent. Bleached liquids appear to be clearer and are wrongly thought of higher purity.

What is tobacco-free nicotine?

The reason why tobacco leaves, and not eggplants or potatoes, are used to obtain nicotine is because of their high content in nicotine and more precisely in S-nicotine, the active enantiomer.

Tobacco-free nicotine could be defined as the S-nicotine extracted from other species than N. tabacum. Nicotine extract yield and extraction time depend on the plant that is chosen.

By definition, synthetic nicotine is manufactured with the use of such chemical substances like, among others: ethanol, niacin, sulphuric acid. Some of the advantages that synthetic nicotine has over tobacco nicotine are the result of the low quality pure nicotine that is available on the market. Comparing to Chemnovatic’s PureNic 99+, synthetic nicotine has very similar properties and quality, so the only advantages, in this case, are the result of the synthetic nature of this product. Both PureNic 99+ and tobacco-free nicotine do not contain nitrosamines that might be present during the extraction of nicotine from tobacco. Nitrosamines extracted from tobacco can still have a grain of plant, which creates unpleasant flavours and harshness. E-liquid manufacturers that use poor quality tobacco nicotine mask them with sweeteners and intensive flavours.

Chemical synthesis of nicotine

Nicotine has been a synthetic challenge to the chemist. Until recently [2]. The downside of synthetic nicotine is cost, and the most economical way to obtain the desired enantiomer of nicotine is via the resolution of a racemic mixture (RS-nicotine). Another step, re-crystallization, would allow to select the desired enantiomer (e.g. S-) and produce S-nicotine.

The main issue with racemic mixtures is that the presence of 50% of non-psychoactive R-nicotine and of 50% of psychoactive S-nicotine divides the potential activity of the juice by two compared to that crafted with natural tobacco extracts.

Since labels only show nicotine content, a racemic mixture of synthetic nicotine with strength of 10 mg/ml would in fact correspond to a juice of 5 mg/ml.

The liquid, when freshly synthesized is colourless, so is the nicotine extracted from tobacco leaves, after purification. The brownish coloration of liquid nicotine is a natural process that is produced upon exposure to light, heat and oxygen; sometimes it also occurs in the dark with time, even in sealed bottles. Nicotine coloration is purely “cosmetic” and clearer liquids do not imply a purer or higher quality.

Purity as a new selling point

Only a few companies on the market choose to offer this type of nicotine as an option for their clients. Freeman proudly always improves and evolves as a company giving the best to our loyal customers.

Maintaining the flavors, you all love this new formula with higher purity; it's our top priority. And if you are a regular client here, you know we don't mess around when it comes to our juices. Perfection's the only way!

Be sure to check our line and get our latest deal. 120ml for just $8 until stock runs out, shop now.

Previous article Synthetic Nicotine VS. Natural Nicotine
Next article The Vape Legislation in the state Freeman Vape Juice is based (California)

Comments

Charles Mccarthy - November 10, 2020

Thank for making that change. It sounds like your juice will taste even better

Kathologist - November 10, 2020

The racemic mix is confusing to me…I keep reading it as 1/2 strength nic.

As a long time user of higher nic levels (which is not among your products), what will be the highest nic strength you will make going forward?

I’m a MTL vaper at 24-36mg/L e-liquid user & prefer bakery & dessert flavors over fruit & candy flavors
Thanks for the primer on synth nic

Shawn P - November 10, 2020

This is awesome!! Best believe I will be first in to buy this " new" Ejuice. Freeman ejuice already has the best tasting ( vaping) flavors in the Ejuice business space, so I cannot imagine their flavors getting any better than they are! I’m really interested in seeing how this affects menthol? I only vape fruit/menthol Ejuice from right here at Freeman. Since I’ve found this company months ago I have not spent a dollar on any other ejuice. I’ve found here what I’ve always been searching for in an fruit/ strong menthol Ejuice! Not to mention the incredible customer service ( usually Paul Freeman himself when you email them) Then there is the incredible shipping! I order on a Friday morning ( priority 2 business days) and it’s on my doorstep by Monday morning. They’re on the West coast, I’m East coast, it just blows my mind!! Thank you Freeman!

Richard J. Vinson - November 10, 2020

I look at synthetic nicotine the same way I look at synthetic meat, not for me. Sorry, but that is how I feel. I also prefer non GMO and organically grown vegetables.

G - November 10, 2020

Is synthetic nicotine covered by the new FDA rules?

DAvid Roberts - November 10, 2020

Paul, glad you’re staying in for the long haul! I’m anxious to try your new products. Sounds like one can bump up the nicotine content and still get a good taste. Hang in there bro!

Eric Barnett - November 10, 2020

Paul,

Thank you for this insightful article. Have you explored the legal ramifications of using synthetic nicotine as it relates to California’s impending flavor ban? Looking through the appropriate statutes I see that “Tobacco Product” is defined as “A product containing, made, or derived from tobacco or nicotine that is intended for human consumption, whether smoked, heated, chewed, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled, snorted, sniffed, or ingested by any other means, including, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, little cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, or snuff.” However, “nicotine” itself is not defined. In fact, most of the literature designed around the laws refer to “tobacco” as the banned substance.

Might there be a legal challenge in the way that these new laws are being interpreted? For instance, the law also defines a “Tobacco Product” as “An electronic device that delivers nicotine or other vaporized liquids to the person inhaling from the device”, whether it contains nicotine or not. So, my vape mod with an empty tank is still defined as a “tobacco product”. How insanely ridiculous is that?

Lastly, if you know of any group or individual that may be challenging these Draconian laws, please share that info with us. I would be more than happy to donate to to their cause.

Patricia Abril - November 10, 2020

I really appreciate the changes you are making. I love 💘 my 1885 that is my goto, and would hate to see it go. Thank you for making a positive impact and change not only so that you can remain open but for the safety and well-being of your customers 😊

Frank Scherr - November 10, 2020

I didn’t understand a lot of the chemistry details; however, the article was very informative & clearly states the advantages of syn-nic.
Thank you for staying ‘ahead of the curve’ on e-juice development & providing a truly clean vaping experience.

Paul Freeman - November 10, 2020

Logan, I really appreciate the outpouring of support and it makes us work 10 times harder to know we have such wonderful customers. I do it for you all. Thank you!

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