b 6 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Washington, D. C. v 
LOSS OF NICOTINE FROM NICOTINE DUSTS DURING STORAGE 
By C. C. McDonne tu, Chief, and H. D. Youne, Assistant Chemist, Insecticide 
and Fungicide Laboratory, Miscellaneous Division, Bureau of Chemistry 
CONTENTS 
Page Page 
Purpose of investigation__......_.--.-.------ 1 | Volatility of nicotine sulphate selution and 
Review. olliterature.o ge: _ eee ere ee 2 free nicotine solution_----.--_-..-.-_< 13 
Outline of experiments__________--_-_-------- 24: Sunmmary=:333 9p oS LEP ES ed Pee 14 
Experimental results._.........-----.-----.-- 3 I-Literature: cited... 2... 2.4. Xa 14 
PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION 
“Nicotine dusts,’’ since their introduction in 1917 by Smith of 
California (6)', have come into extensive use for the control of certain 
insect pests. Campbell (1) estimated that about 2,000 tons of such 
preparations were produced in 1923. These dusts consist of finely 
powdered fuller’s earth, kaolin, hydrated lime, dolomitic lime, calcium 
carbonate, gypsum, sulphur or other absorbent material, with which 
nicotine sulphate or free nicotine solution isincorporated. One seri- 
ous objection to such products from the standpoint of the consumer, 
as well as from that of the manufacturer, is that they are not stable 
and must be used comparatively soon after they have been made. 
The nicotine is lost more or less rapidly, depending principally upon 
the form of nicotine used, the chemical and physical nature of the 
absorbent, and the type of container. 
Under the Federal insecticide and fungicide act, all such prepara- 
tions entering interstate commerce must be labeled to show the 
percentage of nicotine present and the total percentage of inert 
ingredients, or, in lieu of this, the name and percentage of each inert 
ingredient present. The first form of statement is the more feasible 
and the one generally adopted. Owing to the loss of nicotine from 
these preparations as now manufactured and packed, it is difficult 
for the manufacturer to market a product that will remain stable. 
The consumer, therefore, may unknowingly use a product that has 
lost its strength to such an extent as to be worthless. 
The investigation here reported was undertaken in January, 1922 
(Annual Report of the Insecticide and Fungicide Board for 1922, 
p- 6), for the purpose of obtaming definite information on these 
1 Italic numbers in parentheses refer to the Literature Cited, page 14. 
13432°—24f 
