December, '22] Rudolfs: nicotine delivery from dusts 423 



Table 2. Influence'of Moisture Upon the Evolution of Nicotine from' Carriers Impregnated 

 WITH Nicotine Sulfate. 



The fact that approximately the same amount of nicotine evolved 

 from dry sea sand and dry dolomite after 120 hours may be the reason 

 why in arid regions the character of the carrier has not such a great 

 influence as in the Eastern part of the United States. It is interesting 

 to note that the nicotine evolution from sea sand impregnated with nic- 

 otine sulfate is inverse to the moisture conditions of this carrier as 

 compared with the moisture conditions of the dolomite carrier impregnat- 

 ed with nicotine sulfate. These data seem to furnish additional 

 proof that surface phenomena play an important role. Theoretically, 

 the chemical reaction should take place at a greater speed when a 

 stream of air is charged with moisture to approximate saturation, but the 

 nicotine evolved seems to be reabsorbed b}^ the precipitating moisture 

 or the moisture present in the dust and less nicotine was set free than 

 with air of a relative humidity of 73 per' cent. Temperature also has a 

 decided influence upon the nicotine evolution of nicotine sulfate dusts. 



Since the moisture content of the nicotine sulfate solutions (40 per 

 cent nicotine) cannot be reduced without serious difficulties in the man- 

 ufacturing process, experiments were undertaken with so called "free" 

 nicotine solution, analysing approximately 96 per cent nicotine. Some 

 of the most significant figures secured under similar conditions are : 



Percent nicotine Percent nicotine 



after 48 hours after 120 hours 

 Sea Sand 22.80 49.26 



Dolomite 24.78 52.48 



It could be expected that only slight differences should occur since 

 little reaction could take place between the weakly acid liquid, charged 

 with "free" nicotine, and the carriers. The continuous air current 

 together with the relative high temperature drive off the "free" nicotine 

 as a gas from the carriers or absorbents. None or very little chemical 

 reaction takes place between the carriers and the "free" nicotine solu- 

 tion. The following results, reporting the influence of moisture upon 

 the evolution of nicotine from carriers impregnated with "free" nicotine 

 solution, show this clearly: 



