About Nicotine
There are many misconceptions concerning the color of nicotine and what it means regarding quality and purity. Our customers often ask us about the coloring of the nicotine we sell. Don’t worry, the explanation is fairly simple.
Nicotine Defined:
In "Analytical Determination of Nicotine and Related Compounds and their Metabolites" by J.W. Gorrod and P. Jacob III they state, "[...]Pure nicotine is a colorless liquid with a characteristic acrimonious odor. On exposure to air and light, or even on standing in the dark in a sealed bottle, over time the colorless or pale yellow oily liquid becomes the brownish color of stored nicotine. Brown colored nicotine is as toxic as pure colorless or pale-yellow nicotine[...]"
Pure Nicotine & Oxidization:
In its purest form, nicotine is naturally colorless. However, exposure to air and light will change its color over time. Opening a bottle of nicotine will immediately begin the oxidation process, and after a while you should notice the liquid transform into a yellow, rusty, or even pink shade. The color of nicotine is ultimately cosmetic and only suggests its age or exposure to air, light, and heat. Nicotine that has been bleached rather than distilled will be clear, but this has no bearing on its purity. Browse our selection of nicotine products and see for yourself!
Nicotine Oxidization:
There are two methods to oxidize Nicotine:
- Distillation: The most common for pharmaceutical grade manufacturers, is the distillation process. Impurities are removed and only nicotine liquid is left to work with and use in products.
- Salt processing: In this process the liquid is changed into a sulfate. Through bleaching the impurities are removed and then the product is reconstituted through a liquid to change back into useable forms. This liquid is clearer but not necessarily purer.
Bleached liquid appears to be clearer and is therefore is frequently mistaken as being more pure though the color has no effect on purity.