Beyond the Vape

The metabolomics, extraction, theories, and mysteries of nicotine.

My 9th grade best friend and I made a pact. We swore to never give in to peer pressure. It took her only three months to become friends with the school’s notorious drug dealer. It took her that next week to begin her journey of extreme drug usage.

I questioned her one day after school. She looked at the ground and sighed. With every exhale, a thin stream of vape exited her mouth. She then looked at me with glossy red eyes, which only intensified our interaction. She clenched her fist as if she was protecting something in it.

I looked down at her fist and walked away in disappointment.

Source: My friend’s fist.

Nicotine and Metabolomics

Metabolomics is the study of an organism’s metabolites. A metabolite can be responsible for the organism’s cellular functions such as rebuilding, fueling, signaling, defending, and interacting.

Metabolomics holds so much potential for the future. Imagine a world where we can genetically-engineer plant and animal species to generate medicine, deliver supplies, or resurrect extinct species — the possibilities are limitless. In order to fully understand the field, one must know that there are subdivisions within the class of metabolites.

Primary metabolites include proteins that are made up of monomers called amino acids, lipids made up of fatty acids, carbohydrates made up of polysaccharides, DNA and RNA made up of nucleic acids.

Nicotine exists within the domain of secondary metabolites, specifically known as a common type of alkaloid. Other secondary metabolites include morphine, caffeine, codeine, rubber, and oil. The role of a secondary metabolite differs from others — they are not responsible for managing the growth of reproduction of the organism.

Alkaloids and Nicotine Extraction

Alkaloids are a class of secondary metabolites that are primarily produced in plants. Unfortunately, the true role of alkaloids are not understood. Some studies show that alkaloids are primarily produced to ward off predators or control hormone levels. Other studies state that alkaloids are not used for biological functions at all — that they are simply the waste product of metabolic processes.

Pure nicotine becomes a colorless oil when extracted and heated.

Nicotine is one of the predominant types of alkaloids. Nicotine is synthesized in the roots and secreted within the leaves of tobacco plants. The tobacco industry has grown from a value of $46.2 million in 2010 to $47.4 million this year.

In chemistry, nicotine (C10H14N2 or Nic) is a base. However, nicotine in the tobacco leaves must be extracted from a nicotine-containing salt. Although nicotine can be extracted using various methods, this simple step-by-step process is commonly conducted:

1. Harvested tobacco leaves are chopped into fine pieces.
2. These fine pieces pass through a 6 mm mesh strainer multiple times.
3. A lime slurry is used to separate the nicotine base from the salt. NicH++OH → Nic+H2O
4. Pressurized steam (with a temperature over 247 °C) distills the basic substance into a vapor.
5. The vapor is condensed into a colorless, nicotine-rich oil.
6. Kerosene containing 25% sulfuric acid is used to extract the nicotine from the oil. 2Nic (g) + H2SO4 (aq) → (NicH)2SO4 (aq)
7. The nicotine is processed with alkali to adjust its pH to 6 for transport.

A lime slurry is the substance created when water and quicklime are mixed together. Quicklime is product of heating calcium carbonate (limestone) at high temperatures, eliminating CO2 in the process. The slurries are used for industrial purposes, such as acid neutralization for nicotine extraction.

The phrase processed with alkali refers to what is known as the Dutch process. The Dutch process is the chemical manipulation of a substance in order to reduce its acidity. In order to produce a rich nicotine flavor and lower the substance’s pH, more chemicals need to be added to the batch. A pH of 6 is most desired so the nicotine batch can be safely transported in metal containers. If the pH is not 6, the batch is declared unmarketable.

Nicotine Influence and Theories

Federal laws are not doing much. Everyday in the US, about 3,000 teens under the age of 18 smoke for the first time.

According to the National Tobacco Survey, about 28% of high school students and 11% of middle school students said they’d used e-cigarettes within the past month. In 2019, there were 3.6 million middle school and high school e-cigarette users.

This year, that number has grown to 5.3 million.

It is no mystery that nicotine is harmful for the body. In high doses, the stimulant can create blockages of groups of nerve cells or ganglions in the Central Nervous System. Nicotine can stimulate nicotinic cholinergic receptors (where acetylcholine acts as a neurotransmitter) in neuromuscular junctions, the adrenal medulla, and the brain. Nicotine can reach the brain in 7 seconds after being inhaled.

Regular smoking habits increase the number of nicotinic cholinergic receptors. The abundance of receptors is responsible for why regular smokers have a high nicotine tolerance. Addiction then emerges.

One theory suggests that nicotine is not the reason why tobacco use is considered deadly. Mixtures of chemicals from the process of tobacco production in tobacco smoke and the tobacco itself is the reason why usage leads to diseases like cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Another theory states that there is not enough evidence of how nicotine leads to cancer. Although nicotine is not officially listed as a carcinogen, it has been linked to diseases like bowel cancer and the unhealthy activation of MAP kinases (a protein responsible for directing cellular responses). Animal cell culture studies also show that nicotine disrupts healthy apoptosis or programmed cell death, increasing the chance of developing tumors.

Nicotine in Disguise

Nicotine can be found anywhere.

Low amounts of nicotine are present in some vegetables and fruits. These include some species of the nightshade family: potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, celeries, cauliflowers, and papayas. Eggplants contain 100 nanograms of nicotine per gram.

Nicotine products are also disguised as juice boxes, cookies, and candies. The FDA sent warning letters to online retailers selling One Mad Hit Juice Boxes resembling Tree Top’s apple juice products, Vape Heads Sour Smurf Sauce resembling WarHeads candy, and V’Nilla Cookies & Milk resembling Nilla Wafers and Golden Oreos.

One Mad Hit Juice Box (left) vs. TreeTop 100% Apple Juice (right)

Key Takeaways

1. Nicotine exists under the class of secondary metabolites and is type of alkaloid.
2. The extraction of nicotine consists of a series of chemical reactions that separate the nicotine base from the nicotine salt.
3. Addiction emerges from the brain’s high nicotine tolerance.
4. Nicotine is linked to cancer, but is not officially listed as a carcinogen.
5. Online retailers have disguised common children’s food products containing unhealthy concentrations of nicotine.

Thank you for reading my article.

Feel free to contact me with questions, concerns, or general feedback at katelynwon@gmail.com or find me on LinkedIn or Instagram.