Have you lately come across an e-liquid bottle labeled “TFN” or “TFN Nicotine?” If you’re thinking “no,” examine your vape juice more closely. Changes may have been made to the e-recipe liquid’s and label design without your knowledge or approval. What is synthetic nicotine? TFN refers to “tobacco-free nicotine,” an alternative to using tobacco products. In other words, the nicotine in your e-liquid is not extracted from tobacco but rather produced in a laboratory, and if you aren’t currently using it, you likely will be very soon.
In 2022, synthetic nicotine will undoubtedly be the most popular additive to e-liquids. Most vape juices on the market will most likely employ TFN nicotine before the end of the year. In such case, what exactly is artificial nicotine? How will the popularity of synthetic nicotine vape juice change your vaporizing routine in 2022? These are the topics that will be discussed here. Let’s start by exploring the history of nicotine and its origins.
Nicotine may be extracted from tobacco leaves, which is the simplest and most cost-effective method, but the same molecule can also be produced by a chemical process. Nicotine may be synthesized by mixing a catalyst with a molecule that functions as a nicotine precursor. Nicotine may be extracted from tobacco leaves at a fraction of the cost of its laboratory synthesis. Still, labs have perfected their manufacturing processes as a consequence of the high demand for synthetic nicotine in the vaping sector. The move to synthetic nicotine has not substantially altered the cost of e-liquid due to economies of scale.
Each facility has its own secret process for creating synthetic nicotine, which often involves a number of patents. The use of ethyl nicotinate as a precursor is one example. Niacin (vitamin B3) is an ester of nicotinic acid, while ethyl nicotinate is an ester of ethyl nicotinate. One way to make synthetic nicotine is to convert ethyl nicotinate to nicotine through many chemical processes. It’s possible that many different ways will continue to be employed as long as the patents for those methods remain in existence, despite the fact that the specific process used to manufacture the synthetic nicotine for a given e-liquid product is apparent to the end-user.
Where Do We Get Regular Nicotine?
All nicotine replacement products, including lozenges, gum, and patches, used to be derived from tobacco. Most e-liquid manufacturers across the globe employ a pharmaceutical-grade nicotine that is purer than air. It is virtually pure nicotine, with no added or lingering solvents or contaminants.
Nicotine may be extracted from tobacco in a number of different ways, the most common of which is by the use of solvents like ammonia, petroleum ether, or ethanol. Nicotine may also be extracted via steam distillation, however solvent-based extraction is the more common method since it is less expensive. Nicotine may be easily extracted from tobacco using a solvent. Tobacco is processed by first reducing it to a powder, and then combining that powder with a solvent. The mixture is filtered to remove the plant matter. Afterward, the nicotine is extracted using distillation, either by removing the solvent or by distilling the nicotine separately.
Difference Between Synthetic Nicotine and Regular Nicotine
The production process is the primary distinction between tobacco-free and tobacco-based Nicotine. TFN, like regular nicotine, is manufactured using chemicals in a lab. When extracted from the tobacco plant, contaminants like tar and ash may occasionally be left behind, but this nicotine has none of those problems. Since this is the case, TFN may be considered the purest form of nicotine.
Another distinction is that unlike regular nicotine, Tobacco-free Nicotine has no added flavoring or aroma that is often associated with tobacco. To mask the taste of nicotine, most manufacturers add extra flavorings, although this is unnecessary with synthetic nicotine.
Is it Safe to Use Synthetic Nicotine?
Since synthetic nicotine lacks the contaminants found in nicotine derived from tobacco, it is theoretically safer to use. Nicotine is very addictive despite the fact that many people believe it to be reasonably safe in and of itself. Some of the vegetables we consume, including potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, aubergines, and more, contain trace amounts of nicotine as a natural constituent.
Does E-Liquid with Synthetic Nicotine Have a Distinct Flavor or Felt?
There is a good possibility that your preferred brand of e-liquid has already made the move from tobacco-derived nicotine to synthetic nicotine this year, and you may not have even noticed. That’s because nicotine used in pharmaceuticals is already purified to over 99 percent. Despite coming from a distinct source, pharmaceutical-grade nicotine extracted from tobacco and synthetic nicotine are chemically identical.
Tobacco-derived nicotine that isn’t of true pharmaceutical quality is the sole reason why an e-liquid with synthetic nicotine can taste different to you than one with natural nicotine. A nicotine extract may taste bitter if it has been improperly filtered and contains even trace amounts of tobacco. In such instance, the manufacturer of e-liquid may add sweets and robust flavors to mask the bitter taste of the tobacco residue. However, the flavor of such an e-liquid would still pale in comparison to that of one containing a more pure type of nicotine. In the very unlikely event if the nicotine in your present e-liquid is of a poor quality, you may prefer the flavor of synthetic nicotine.
To the far as enjoyment is concerned, most individuals do not distinguish between synthetic nicotine and nicotine obtained from tobacco. However, some observers have remarked that, unlike natural nicotine, large doses of synthetic nicotine are less likely to produce tachycardia. If you use a high-strength e-liquid and sometimes get the hiccups while vaping, you may discover that with synthetic nicotine, this seldom, if ever, happens.